Introduction Chemokines are responsible for dissemination
and survival of many malignant tumors including chronic
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Chemokine ligand-3 (CCL3),
previously known as macrophage inflammatory protein-1a,
has been found to be secreted from CLL cells in response to
B-cell receptor activation, enhancing the interaction between
CLL cells and the leukemia microenvironment. In the present
study, we measured CCL3 serum levels by using the enzymelinked
immunosorbent assay in 40 CLL patients and
examined CCL3 levels for associations with established
prognostic markers. A significant increase in the serum level
of CCL3 in CLL patients (mean=147.2±62.3?pg/ml) was
found in comparison with normal healthy controls (8.2±23.7?
pg/ml); in addition, this increase in the CLL serum levels was
significantly correlated with established prognostic factors as
CD38 and the advanced stages of Rai and Binet staging
system.
Conclusion CCL3 serum level could be a valuable and
independent prognostic marker and should be useful in risk assessment in patients with CLL, and it may provide insights
into creating a new therapeutic modality. |
