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Short telomere length is associated with NOTCH1/SF3B1/TP53 aberrations and poor outcome in newly diagnosed chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients
Author(s) -
Mansouri Larry,
Grabowski Pawel,
Degerman Sofie,
Svenson Ulrika,
Gunnarsson Rebeqa,
Cahill Nicola,
Smedby Karin Ekström,
Geisler Christian,
Juliusson Gunnar,
Roos Göran,
Rosenquist Richard
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.23466
Subject(s) - chronic lymphocytic leukemia , telomere , medicine , leukemia , oncology , immunology , genetics , biology , dna
Most previous studies on telomere length (TL) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are based on referral cohorts including a high proportion of aggressive cases. Here, the impact of TL was analyzed in a population‐based cohort of newly diagnosed CLL ( n = 265) and in relation to other prognostic markers. Short telomeres were particularly associated with high‐risk genetic markers, such as NOTCH1, SF3B1, or TP53 aberrations, and predicted a short time to treatment (TTT) and overall survival (OS) (both P < 0.0001). TL was an independent prognostic factor and subdivided patients with otherwise good‐prognostic features (e.g., mutated IGHV genes, favorable cytogenetics) into subgroups with different outcome. Furthermore, in follow‐up samples ( n = 119) taken 5–8 years after diagnosis, TL correlated well with TL at diagnosis and remained unaffected by treatment. Altogether, these novel data indicate that short TL already at diagnosis is associated with poor outcome in CLL and that TL can be measured at later stages of the disease. Am. J. Hematol. 88:647–651, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.