CYTOGENETIC ABNORMALITIES , BCL-2 EXPRESSION AND PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE AND -MICROGLOBULIN IN CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

Abstract

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is a disease characterized by an uncontrolled proliferation of mature appearmg lymphocytes with progressive accumulation of clonal B-lymphocytes in early phases GO /G1 of the cell cycle . Chronic lymphocytic leukemia represents th1 quietessential example of human malignancy which is caused principally by defects that prevent cell turnover due to programmed cell death rather than by alterations in cell cycle regulation . It has been shown that malignant CDS+ B- CJLL cells express high levels ofbcl-2 m-RNA and protein. The bcl-2 protein functions by enhancing cell viability through the inhibition of apoptotic death . In B-CLL , various genetic abnormalities are found but their relative importance in the pathogenesis and evolution of the disease has not been adequately clarified . Clonal chromosomal abnormalities are identified in approximately 50% of the patients. Trisomy 12 is the most common numerical chromosomal aberrations in patients with CLL . CLL is a disease characterized by heterogenecity notonly in the presenting clinical features but also in the rate of disease progression . The current staging systems in CLL don't seem to predict the risk of disease progression of an individual patient with sufficient accuracy .

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