RESUMO
The aim of the present study was to investigate different biological prognostic markers to identify high-risk patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with a higher tumor burden, in order to ensure appropriate management. A total of 81 Egyptian patients with CLL were enrolled in the present study, with 75 healthy subjects serving as the control group. The expression of CD49d, CD38 and ZAP-70 in CLL cells was assessed using flow cytometry. The fluorescence in situ hybridization technique was employed to evaluate TP53 (del17p), ataxia-telangiectasia (del11q) and 13q14 (del13q14) genes and the presence of trisomy 12. The serological markers ß2 microglobulin (B2M) and sCD23 were measured by ELISA. The CD49d gene was highly expressed in 25.9% and cytogenetic aberrations were observed in 66.6% of all recruited CLL patients. The patients were categorized according to the Binet staging system and a significant increase in the expression of sCD23, CD49d and ZAP-70 was detected in group C (P=0.008, 0.034 and 0.017, respectively) when compared to groups A and B. CD49d+ patients exhibited significantly higher expression of CD38 (P=0.002) and trisomy 12 (P=0.015) and lower expression of del13q14 (P=0.001). Patients who were CD49d+ with B2M>3.5 µg/ml exhibited higher total leukocyte count (P=0.048), higher absolute lymphocyte count (P=0.036), higher expression of CD38 (P=0.002) and trisomy 12 (P=0.034) and lower expression of del13q14 (P=0.002). Therefore, sCD23, CD49d and ZAP-70 may be considered as an optimal prognostic marker combination to be evaluated in the early stages of CLL and throughout disease management. Integrating both serological markers and CD49d expression by flow cytometry may add to the prognostic value of each marker alone and help identify high-risk patients with a higher tumor burden.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate ITGA4 gene expression pattern and to explore its methylation heterogeneity in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). PATIENTS & METHODS: Eighty one CLL patients and 75 healthy subjects were enrolled and prognostic evaluation of patients was assessed. ITGA4 q-realtime PCR was performed using Applied Biosystems, TaqMan gene expression assay. ITGA4 gene-specific CpG methylation was investigated in real time using pyrosequencing technology. RESULTS: ITGA4 was differentially expressed in CLL patients. The CpG sites-1, 2 and 3 showed significantly higher mean levels than healthy controls (p = <0.001, 0.007 and 0.009). Significant association between CpG site-1 and CLL has been detected using age-adjusted logistic regression (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Hypermethylation at ITGA4 gene CpG sites (1,2,3) is a characteristic feature in CLL.
RESUMO
Taif rose (Rosa damascena trigintipetala Dieck) is a sort of damask rose, which is considered as one of the most important economic products of Taif. In this study, the authors investigated the possible cytotoxic, genotoxic, antimutagenic and anticancer effect of concrete and absolute rose oils. The results showed that both concrete and absolute rose oils were cytotoxically and genotoxically safe at a dose of 10 µg/ml when tested on cultures of normal human blood lymphocytes. Also, the results showed significant antimutagenic activity at p < 0.001 for absolute rose oil at the same dose level when tested on cultures of normal human blood lymphocytes supplemented with 300 ng/ml mitomycin C (MMC). On the other hand, concrete and absolute oils exerted a cytotoxic activity against two kinds of human cancer cell lines: HepG2 and MCF7. Concrete oil showed cytotoxic activity against HepG2 and MCF7 with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 16.28 and 18.09 µg/ml, respectively, whereas absolute rose oil showed its cytotoxic activity against HepG2 and MCF7 with an IC50 of 24.94 and 19.69, respectively. From this study, it is concluded that concrete and absolute rose oils are cytotoxically and genotoxically safe at a dose of 10 µg/ml when tested on cultures of normal human blood lymphocytes. In addition, absolute oil has an antimutagenic activity at the same dose. Further investigations are needed to study the activity of higher doses of both oils in vitro and in vivo in experimental animals in order to evaluate the capability of using these oils as therapeutic for treatment of some kinds of cancers.
