Flow Cytometric Analysis of ZAP-70 Protein Expression for B-Cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Prognostication: Usefulness and Limitations.

Objectives: The heterogenous clinical course in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) can be linked to several genetic and phenotypic characteristics of malignant B-cells. Prognostic analysis in B-CLL is routinely carried out to assist patient management; particularly to predict the time to initiate treatment. Increased ZAP-70 expression is a surrogate marker for unmutated immunoglobulin genes and inferior clinical outcomes which can be quantified to predict future outcomes in B-CLL patients.