The Prognostic Value of CD49d Expression in Turkish Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of CD49d expression in Turkish chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. Material and Methods: Data for 118 patients from a single center were evaluated. In all, the study included 73 patients for whom complete clinical follow-up data, and flow cytometry test results for CD5/19, CD23/43, CD38, Zap70, Kappa, and Lambda light chains, and CD49d were available. The effect of the level of CD49d expression on overall survival (OS) and time to treatment (TTT) was investigated retrospectively. Results: Patients with high CD49d expression (≥30%) had more advanced disease at the time of diagnosis (median Rai stage 3 vs. Rai stage 1, P = 0.03). Patients resistant to treatment had higher CD49d expression than patients that responded to treatment (mean CD49d expression of 58% vs. 46%, P = 0.08). The level of CD49d expression was not associated with OS or TTT. Conclusion: The study’s findings show that the patients with high CD49d expression at the time of diagnosis had more advanced disease and poorer response to therapy; however, their overall survival did not differ from that of the patients with advanced disease stage, but lower levels of CD49d expression.