p53 expression by immunohistochemistry is an important determinant of survival in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia receiving frontline chemo-immunotherapy.

Although chromosome 17p abnormalities and TP53 mutations have been reported as poor prognostic indicators in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the impact of aberrant p53 expression as assessed by immunohistochemistry (p53-IHC) has not been defined in patients with CLL treated with chemoimmunotherapy, particularly in the context of other novel markers such as ZAP-70 expression and IgVH mutation status (IgVH MS). We assessed p53-IHC in 222 bone marrow (BM) specimens from patients with CLL enrolled in a phase II trial with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR). ZAP70 expression and IgVH MS were assessed in 208 and 108 patients, respectively.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia With t(2;14)(p16;q32) involves the BCL11A and IgH genes and is associated with atypical morphologic features and unmutated IgVH genes.

The t(2;14)(p16;q32) has been reported previously in only 12 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). The clinicopathologic features have been incompletely described. We describe 6 new cases of CLL/SLL with t(2;14)(p16;q32).

The role of cytogenetic abnormalities as a prognostic marker in primary myelofibrosis: applicability at the time of diagnosis and later during disease course.

Although cytogenetic abnormalities are important prognostic factors in myeloid malignancies, they are not included in current prognostic scores for primary myelofibrosis (PMF). To determine their relevance in PMF, we retrospectively examined the impact of cytogenetic abnormalities and karyotypic evolution on the outcome of 256 patients. Baseline cytogenetic status impacted significantly on survival: patients with favorable abnormalities (sole deletions in 13q or 20q, or trisomy 9 +/- one other abnormality) had survivals similar to those with normal diploid karyotypes (median, 63 and 46 months, respectively), whereas patients with unfavorable abnormalities (rearrangement of chromosome 5 or 7, or > or = 3 abnormalities) had a poor median survival of 15 months.

Relevance of the immunoglobulin VH somatic mutation status in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) or related chemoimmunotherapy regimens.

Although immunoglobulin V(H) mutation status (IgV(H) MS) is prognostic in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who are treated with alkylating agents or single-agent fludarabine, its significance in the era of chemoimmunotherapy is not known. We determined the IgV(H) somatic mutation status (MS) in 177 patients enrolled in a phase 2 study of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) and in 127 patients treated with subsequent chemoimmunotherapy protocols. IgV(H) MS did not impact significantly on the complete remission (CR) rate of patients receiving FCR or related regimens.

MYC translocation in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is associated with increased prolymphocytes and a poor prognosis.

Chromosomal translocations that involve MYC, characteristic of Burkitt lymphoma, are rare in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). We report the clinical, morphological, immunophenotypic, cytogenetic and molecular genetic features of eight CLL cases with MYC rearrangement. The patients, five men and three women (median age, 71 years) had bone marrow involvement and an absolute peripheral blood lymphocytosis; five had lymphadenopathy; seven had splenomegaly.

Fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Background: The combination of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FC-R) shows significant in vitro synergism and may improve patient outcome with little overlapping toxicity.

Methods: Between December 2000 and June 2005, 77 patients completed therapy after a median of 4 cycles of FC-R (fludarabine at a dose of 25 mg/m2 intravenously [i.v.