The Impact and Prognostic Significance of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Upregulated 1 (CLLU1) Gene Expression in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Single Center Experience.

OBJECTIVES

To determine CLLU1 gene levels and the relationship of that gene among other prognostic parameters in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

METHODS

Bone-marrow infiltration pattern, β2-microglobulin (β 2-M), cluster of differentiation (CD)38, and ZAP-70 status were recorded. CLLU1 levels were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and expressed as folds. The relationship between CLLU1 and other known prognostic parameters was evaluated.

RESULTS

CLLU1 expression was positive in 81 patients and negative in 3 patients. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) CLLU1 level was 6.45 folds (3.75-16.57 folds) in patients with β 2-M normal values and 16.22 folds (3.91-62.00 folds) in patients with increased β 2-M (P = .15). Patients with a higher CD38 value than the median level had 3 times higher CLLU1 levels than the other group (P = .07). The median (IQR) CLLU1 level was 4.25 folds (2.75-13.71 folds) in patients with CLL who tested negative on ZAP-70, whereas it was 49.52 folds (15.06-446.36 folds) in those who tested positive via ZAP-70 (P = .005).

CONCLUSIONS

CLLU1 is a specific parameter to CLL, and its level corresponds well with the ZAP-70 level.