Prognostic irrelevance of HLA-G in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Int J Lab Hematol. 2009 Jun;31(3):327-37. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-553X.2008.01030.x. Epub 2008 Feb 3.

Abstract

In the last few years, it has been suggested that the involvement of human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) in several tumoral processes and its likely participation as a factor of immune tolerance in malignant cells. Recently, positive HLA-G surface expression has been associated with a poor prognosis in a small group of patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), a lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by a heterogeneous clinical course. In the present work, 169 patients suffering from B-CLL were analyzed for the expression of HLA-G by flow cytometry in order to verify its prognostic value in a larger cohort. We observed a low expression of this molecule on leukemic B cells and no significant relation to clinical data or progression-free survival time, indicating that this molecule is not as good immunologic prognostic marker for B-CLL as suggested.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Female
  • HLA Antigens / analysis*
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / diagnosis*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / mortality
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis

Substances

  • HLA Antigens
  • HLA-G Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I