Study of the chromosomal abnormality of the 13q14 by fluorescence In situ hybridization in B-cell chronic lymphatic leukaemia ; Correlation With Immunophenotypic Pattern

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is a disease with a low proliferative activity characterized by the accumulation of clonal B• lymphocytes that seemto be arrested in earlyGOIOI phase of the cell cycle.Although the pathogenesis of the disease remains largely unknown, several investigations have focused on the role of cytogenetic aberrations which , maycontribute to defective apoptosis, deregulation of cell cycle regulatory .genes and lead to expansion of malignant clone. Although the pathogenesis of CLL depends primarily on intrinsic defects within the leukaemic cells, interaction with the microenvironment of bone marrow, lymph node and spleenas well as other components of the immune systemis likely to affectthe clinical course of the disease. Despite its homogeneity at cellular level, B-CLL is clinically heterogeneous since somepatients survive for a long time without therapy, while others progress towards more advanced stages and die despite aggressive treatment.These clinical observations have prompted numerous studies aimed at determining reliable prognostic markers capable of predicting the progression and outcome of the diseaseincluding, chromosomal analysis by conventional cytogenetics and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization, IgVH gene mutational status, ~2M, CD38 expression, and Zeta- associated protein70.Recent study found that aberrant expression of CD38 was significantly associated with higher level of P2M, nonmutated variable region of immunoglobulin heavy chain and ZAP-70 (new prognostic markers).