Cytogenetic Subclone Burden: A New Biomarker Predicting Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients Outcome.

BACKGROUND:Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the most prevalent adult leukemia that occurs in older patients and presents a variable course of the disease. Risk stratification of CLL is a matter of continuous improvement. Thus, this study aimed to assess the impact of the quantification of 17p del and 11q del cytogenetic subclones on the outcome of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS:This is a prospective study that involved 100 subjects with CLL. For all included patients; assessment of the cytogenetic subclones burden for 17p del and 11q del using the FISH technique was carried out. RESULTS:CLL patients with a high 17p del (>33%) cytogenetic subclone burden showed significantly shorter lymphocyte doubling time (LDT), time to first treatment (TTFT), and progression free survival (PFS) compared to those with a lower burden. On contrary 11q del subclone(>30%) burden had an insignificant impact on LDT, TTFT and PFS. CONCLUSION:Quantification of 17pdel burden (>vs.≤33%) could be used for refining risk stratification of CLL patients.