Association of CD49d and CD44 in CLL Patients and Their Role in Prognosis
Association of CD49d and CD44 in CLL Patients and Their Role in Prognosis
The interactions of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells with the microenvironment in secondary
 lymphoid tissues and the bone marrow are known to promote CLL cell survival and proliferation
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of chronic leukemia, accounting
 for approximately 40% of all leukemia's and mainly affecting older individuals. As it has a
 highly variable clinical course, identification of molecular and biological prognostic
 markers has provided new insights into the risk stratiﬁcation of patients with CLL .

 The interactions of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells with the microenvironment in secondary
 lymphoid tissues and the bone marrow are known to promote CLL cell survival and proliferation
 . CD49d (one of biomarkers) is one of independent prognostic risk parameter in CLL with
 important roles in shaping these interactions.

 CD49d also is one of independent prognostic risk parameters in CLL that predict adverse
 outcome and linked to processes involved in interaction with the vascular endothelium and/or
 migration into the extravascular compartments .

 The cell-surface glycoprotein CD44 is involved in cell motility, cellular trafficking, and
 stem cell differentiation . It contributes to the phenotypic hallmarks of many cancers, such
 as invasiveness, self-renewal, and sustained survival. CD44 transmits both growth and
 apoptotic signals, a functional duality that is also observed in hematologic malignancies.

 CD44 expression in CLL is mediated by the tumor microenvironment. As a coreceptor, CD44
 promotes leukemogenesis by regulating stimuli of MCL1 expression. Moreover, CD44 can be
 addressed therapeutically in CLL by specific antibodies.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  All patients are newly diagnosed as CLL

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  : patients with associated malignancies