Cancer is a genetic disease caused by mutations and chromosomal abnormalities that contribute to uncontrolled cell growth. In addition, cancer cells can rapidly respond to conventional and targeted therapies by accumulating novel and often specific genetic lesions leading to acquired drug resistance and relapsing disease. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), however, diverse chromosomal aberr...

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), also termed KDR, is a high-affinity vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor. VEGFR-2 plays a role in de novo blood vessel formation and hematopoietic cell development. Recently, we found that chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells express high levels of VEGF. Therefore, we sought to investigate the role of VEGFR-2 in CLL. Usi...

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are CD5+ small B-cell neoplasms (SBCNs) with overlapping features. Flow cytometric immunophenotyping is often used to help differentiate CLL from MCL, and a characteristic CLL phenotype is considered essentially diagnostic. However, previous studies have not specifically examined how well a typical MCL immunophenotype distinguish...

Abstract Dendritic cells (DCs) function as principal sensors of PAMPs and DAMPs, connecting the innate adaptive arms immune system. DC subset deficiencies have been observed in untreated CLL patients compared to age-matched healthy controls. Studies investigating specific subsets that differ localization; conventional DCs (cDCs), plasmacytoid (pDCs), Axl +Siglec-6 +(AS) are lacking CLL. In mice...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Given the prognostic relevance that the identification of mutated and germline subgroups of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has recently acquired we set out to analyze in depth individual VH gene usage rearrangements in patients with mutated and germline CLL. DESIGN AND METHODS Using sequence analysis of FR1/JH polymerase chain reaction products, the VH immunoglob...

Prostate cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are relatively common malignancies associated with advanced age. Although immunotherapy-based strategies are used to treat both, currently, there is no overlap in specific therapies. Sipuleucel-T is an active cellular immunotherapy that improves overall survival for patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) but i...

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one of the most prevalent adult leukemias. This malignancy is known by lymphocytosis for a duration of more than 3 months. In fact, it is a heterogeneous clinical disease with changeable progression. Chromosomal aberrations are significant parameters to predict result and survival rate and find treatment strategies for each patient. Cytogenetic ...

Chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) represents 0.9% of all new cancers. It is estimated that there will be almost 15 000 new cases and 4600 deaths due to CLL in 2015 in the USA.1 The median ages at diagnosis and death are 71 years and 80 years, respectively.1 The criteria that define the diagnosis of B-CLL include the presence of at least 5 × 106 B lymphocytes/L with the peculiar CLL ph...

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are among the most frequently activated signaling pathways in cancer. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), signals from the microenvironment are critical for expansion of the malignant B cells, and cause constitutive activation of PI3Ks. CXCR4 is a key receptor for CLL cell migration and adhesion to marrow stromal cells (MSCs). Because of the importance of C...

Optimal management of patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is dictated by patient characteristics, prior therapy, and response to prior therapy. We report the final analysis of combined fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab (FCR) for previously treated patients with CLL and identify patients who benefit most from this therapy. We explore efficacy of FCR in...