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Progressive B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia frequently exhibits aberrant p53 expression
Author(s) -
AguilarSantelises Miguel,
Magnusson Kristinn P.,
Wiman Klas G.,
Mellstedt Håkan,
Jondal Mikael
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910580403
Subject(s) - chronic lymphocytic leukemia , biology , b cell , exon , lymphoma , leukemia , mutation , microbiology and biotechnology , cancer research , immunology , antibody , gene , genetics
We have analysed the p53 status in non‐progressive and progressive chronic B‐cell leukaemia (B‐CLL) by ELISA, immunoprecipitation, FACS and cDNA sequencing in relation to in vitro proliferation in response to Staphylococcus aureus strain Cowan I (SAC) and IL‐2. In FACS, cells from progressive leukaemia were found to over‐express p53 with a conformation recognized by PAb240. In a PAb240‐based ELISA, 60% of progressive B‐CLL were positive. DNA sequencing of p53 exons 5 to 9 revealed a codon 179 His to Gln change in one of the ELISA‐positive, progressive B‐CLL but failed to reveal any mutations in 4 other ELISA‐positive, progressive B‐CLL Among progressive B‐CLL populations, 10/14 responded by proliferation in vitro to SAC/IL‐2. In non‐progressive cells, low levels of p53 were found by FACS, none was positive in the PAb240 ELISA and only one case showed a weak proliferative response to SAC/IL‐2. Low p53 expression was also seen in different types of normal B cells, resting and activated, and in EBV‐transformed B‐cell lines, in contrast to the high expression observed in Burkitt lymphoma cell lines with verified p53 mutations. We conclude that progressive B‐CLL is characterized by aberrant p53 expression which may be a significant prognostic factor.