Markers of increased angiogenesis and their correlation with biological parameters identifying high-risk patients in early B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

We wondered whether there was any association between the extent of increased angiogenesis and IgVH gene mutational status, expression of CD38 and ZAP-70 in early B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients. Circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) correlated positively with ZAP-70-expression (P = 0.03), CD38− expression (P = 0.03) and mutational status of IgVH (P = 0.005). The same did not apply when correlations were sought with either bone marrow angiogenesis or serum levels of basic fibroblatic growth factor (FGF-2). Studies to determine how to integrate variables reflecting increased angiogenesis with other prognostic markers such as CD38, ZAP-70, IgVH status and cytogenetic abnormalities are needed to optimize risk stratification for individual patients.