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CD26 expression in mature B‐cell neoplasia: its possible role as a new prognostic marker in B‐CLL
Author(s) -
Cro Lilla,
Morabito Fortunato,
Zucal Nadia,
Fabris Sonia,
Lionetti Marta,
Cutrona Giovanna,
Rossi Francesca,
Gentile Massimo,
Ferrario Andrea,
Ferrarini Manlio,
Molica Stefano,
Neri Antonino,
Baldini Luca
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
hematological oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1099-1069
pISSN - 0278-0232
DOI - 10.1002/hon.888
Subject(s) - expression (computer science) , b cell , cancer research , biology , medicine , immunology , antibody , computer science , programming language
CD26 (dipeptidyl peptidase IV, DPP IV) is widely expressed by T and natural killer (NK) cells, epithelial and endothelial cells of different tissues, and it is strongly upregulated in activated B‐cells; moreover it plays a regulatory role in the neoplastic transformation and progression of various types of tumours. CD26 expression was evaluated by means of flow cytometry in various peripheral B‐cell lymphoid tumours: 12 follicular and 12 mantle cell lymphomas, 20 multiple myelomas (MMs), 12 hairy cell leukaemias (HCLs), 112 chronic lymphocytic leukaemias (CLLs), 20 CD5 negative B‐cell chronic lymphoproliferative diseases (CD5 neg B‐CLPDs) and 12 diffuse large cell lymphomas (DLCLs). CD26 expression was absent or barely detectable in follicular and mantle cell lymphomas, high in MMs and HCLs, and variable in CLLs, in CD5 neg B‐CLPDs and in DLCLs. CD26 significantly correlated with CD49d and CD38 expressions ( p < 0.0001) in B‐CLLs, and there was a significant correlation between CD26 and ZAP‐70 expressions or IgVH mutational status ( p < 0.0001). After a median follow‐up of 36 months, 65 B‐CLL patients were treated; taking 10% as the best CD26 cut‐off value, Kaplan–Meier curves revealed a significantly shorter time to treatment in the CD26‐positive cases ( p < 0.0001). Overall, our data indicate that CD26 expression may identify subsets of B‐CLL patients with an unfavourable clinical outcome in terms of therapeutic need, thus suggesting its potential role as a marker (together with CD38 and CD49d) in a future routine cytofluorimetric panel to be validated for the prognostic stratification of B‐CLLs. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.