'Steady Progress' in Testing for ZAP-70

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Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2006 Aug 11;70B(4):201-203 [Epub ahead of

print]

Flow cytometry for ZAP-70: New colors for chronic lymphocytic

leukemia.Wiestner A.

Hematology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, land.

ZAP-70 has become one of the most studied prognostic markers in

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). ZAP-70 is remarkable in many

ways: ZAP-70 has been identified as the best discriminating gene

between prognostically distinct CLL subtypes using large scale gene

expression profiling; ZAP-70 has been shown to enhance signal

transduction in CLL B-cells and therefore could contribute to disease

progression; and ZAP-70 is one of the rare examples of an

intracellular target considered for clinical flow cytometry.

This issue attests to the enormous effort and the steady progress

made in overcoming technical challenges of testing for ZAP-70

expression and sets the foundation for a successful translation of

this important marker into clinical practice.

Despite the best effort, one will likely have to accept that not all

cases can be clearly assigned to one or the other group, given that

ZAP-70 expression between CLL patients falls along a continuum from

absent to high. Nevertheless, ZAP-70 expression could become a key

parameter to guide patients towards risk adapted treatment strategies

in prospective clinical trials.

© 2006 International Society for Analytical Cytology.

PMID: 16906579 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]