ZAP-70 And CD38 Expression And Significance In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Objective To assess whether ZAP-70 expression could be used as a prognostic marker in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and correlation between ZAP-70 and CD38 expression.Methods Semi-quantitatiave RT-PCR was utilized to analyse ZAP-70 expression from B-CLL patients and health controls; CD38 was assessed by flow cytometry in B-CLL patients and health controls.Results In 10 of 24 B-CLL cases (41.7%) tested positive for ZAP-70 expression and 14 cases (63.2%) did not express ZAP-70, significantly higher than that in control group(p＜0.05); The difference of the white blood count(WBC), LDH andβ₂-MG in group of ZAP-70 positive and group of ZAP-70 negative was significant(P＜0.05). 11 (45.8%) cases were tested positive for CD38, and 13(54.2%) cases were negative. The difference of WBC and LDH in group of CD38 positive and group of CD38 negative was not significant(P＞0.05). The correlation between ZAP-70 and CD38 expression is well corresponded.Conclusions ZAP-70 and CD38 expression are predictors of the need for treatment in B-CLL. ZAP-70 might be a surrogate marker for IgVH mutational status.