Prognosis of Binet stage A chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients: the strength of routine parameters

Blood. 2010 Nov 25;116(22):4588-90. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-06-288274. Epub 2010 Aug 25.

Abstract

Recent developments in the management of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients have made necessary the availability of dependable prognostic factors. We have developed a prognostic index derived from the multivariate analysis of 339 stage A patients at diagnosis, exhaustively studied for classical and recent predictive markers. Only 4 biologic parameters were found to be independent predictors of progression-free survival (PFS): serum thymidine kinase (sTK), lymphocytosis, β2-microglobulin, and CD38 expression. Two groups were distinguishable: cases with no or 1 risk factor (among whom 85% did not progress after 7 years), and cases with 2 or more factors showing a median PFS of 20 months. Finally, we propose an easy, fast, cost-effective strategy for a trustworthy prognostication in stage A patients, who currently represent more than 80% of the CLL population, allowing physicians to adapt follow-up individually.

MeSH terms

  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / diagnosis*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Prognosis