Circulating CXCL13 could be serving as a biomarker for chronic lymphocytic leukemia severity

BACKGROUND: Recent reports indicated the importance of chemotractant CXCL-13 in solid tumors and lymphoid malignancies. However, the prognostic value of the mentioned cytokines as biomarkers in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient’s remains to be identified. Therefore; this study was designed in order to address the relation between CXCL-13 concentrations levels and markers of severity in CLL patients. METHODS: Our study included 150 CLL patients and 20 controls. Serum CXCL-13 was determined by ELISA for CLL patients at diagnosis as well as controls. RESULTS: The serum CXCL-13 levels were significantly higher in CLL patients as compared to controls. The high CXCL-13 concentration levels was significantly associated with high number of smudge cells; high LDH; high grade of Rai stage, short time to first treatment (TTT). Cox regression analysis was conducted for prediction of TTT, using age, gender, WBCs, smudge cells, CXCL-13, LDH, ZAP70, CD38, β2-microglobulin, Rai staging as covariates. High LDH, CXCL-13 and CD38% were significantly independent predictor for shorter TTT. CONCLUSION: High CXCL-13 serum levels at CLL diagnosis is correlated with other markers of disease activity; and could be served as biomarkers that predict CLL patient’s outcome.