The Clinical Significance Of Cd38, Cd16, Cd56 And Zap70 Cell Surface-Antigen Expression In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a disease characterized by increased number of mature B lymphocytes in blood stream, bone marrow, lymph node and spleen with different clinical course. In CLL patients, Rai and Binet classification systems are established for determination of the necessity of treatment and prediction of survival. However, the prognostic value of these classifications is limited in early staged patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of surface antigens (ZAP70, CD38, CD16 and CD56) in staging and prognosis of newly diagnosed and untreated patients with CLL. ZAP70 expression was positive in 5 of 35 investigated patients. The majority of patients with low expression levels of ZAP70 was early stage of disease and progression-free survival of these patients was longer than others. CD38 expression was positive in 3 of 35 investigated patients. The majority of patients with low expression levels of CD38 was early stage of disease and progression-free survival of these patients was longer than others. In only one patient, both ZAP70 and CD38 expressions were positive. There was no significant correlation in patients between the expression of ZAP70 and CD38 CD56, CD16 was expressed at low levels in all patients. The majority of patients in this study, expressions of surface antigens such as ZAP70, CD38, CD16 were found as low. Our results are highly significant when 74 % of them are considered to be a early-stage and/or follow-up without treatment. However, Long-term clinical observational studies with control groups should be made for understanding the effects of surface antigens in staging and prognosis of CLL.