ZAP-70 Negatively Associated with Angiogenic Agent in CLL

[Guest guest]

[This is opposite of what I would have expected. However, VEGF

isn't the only angiogenic compound that exists, and this is but one

study. It is an interesting find and surprising as well. Perhaps

this offsets somewhat the proliferating tendency of ZAP-70.]

Leukemia Research

Article in Press, Corrected Proof -

doi:10.1016/j.leukres.2007.05.016

Copyright © 2007 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.

Commentary

Modern prognostic factors and angiogenesis in chronic lymphocytic

leukemia: More data needed

Lukas Smoleja, Ctirad Andrysb and Vladimira Vroblovab

a2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical

Hematology, University Hospital and Medical School, Hradec Kralove,

Czech Republic

bInstitute of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, University

Hospital and Medical School, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic

Received 18 May 2007; revised 18 May 2007; accepted 19 May 2007.

Available online 6 July 2007.

Abstract

Angiogenesis appears to be an important player in biology of chronic

lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We present here data on association of

ZAP-70 expression measured by flow cytometry and plasma levels of

vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast

growth factor (bFGF) in 27 untreated CLL patients.

We found significantly higher VEGF (but not bFGF) in ZAP-negative

patients. Likewise, there was a negative correlation between

percentage of ZAP-70 expression and VEGF.

Larger, prospective studies are needed to confirm our pilot data.