Onkológia 5/2008

CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA – BIOLOGY, PROGNOSIS AND CLINICAL PICTURES (PART 1)

Rapid development of molecular biology and genetics changed the view on biology of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, previously considered to be a disease from accumulation of immunoincompetent lymphocytes. Kinetic studies proved normal, even increased proliferative activity with antigen response. New prognostic markers - cytogenetic aberations, mutational status, tyrosin-kinase ZAP 70 positivity show better correlation with clinical course of this heterogenous entity. Diagnostic criteria, staging a treatment response evaluation, formulated by Bruce Cheson et al were revised and published by IWCLL (International workshop on chronice lymphocytic leukemia) – sponsored working group in Blood.

Keywords: chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mutational status, arrays, microenviroment, cytogenetic aberations, imunophenotype, bone marrow examination