Strong correlation between VEGF and MCL-1 mRNA expression levels in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Received 14 January 2009; received in revised form 30 April 2009; accepted 4 May 2009.

Abstract

Expression of the anti-apoptotic myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1) gene is a novel prognostic factor in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Vascular and endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are able to upregulate MCL-1 via autocrine signaling loops. In 88 B-CLL patients, we found a strong correlation of MCL-1 gene expression with VEGF (P<10−7) but not with IL-6 mRNA levels. VEGF but not IL-6 expression influenced patient prognosis. VEGF may be a positive autocrine in vivo regulator of MCL-1 in B-CLL. Inhibition of VEGF and its signaling may prove to be useful in the treatment of B-CLL patients.

Keywords: B-CLL, Gene expression, VEGF, IL-6, MCL-1, Prognosis

a Univ Clermont 1, Fac Médecine, Histologie Embryologie Cytogénétique, Clermont-Ferrand F-63001, France

b CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Cytogénétique Médicale, Clermont-Ferrand F-63003, France

c Univ Clermont 1, Fac Médecine, EA 3846, Clermont-Ferrand F-63011, France

d Service d’Hématologie Clinique Adulte, CHU, Clermont-Ferrand F-63003, France

e Département de Radiothérapie, Centre Jean Perrin, Clermont-Ferrand F-63011, France

f Service d’Hématologie Biologique & Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris F-75013, France

g Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay

h Service d’Hématologie Biologique, CHU, Clermont-Ferrand F-63003, France

i Service Statistiques et Communications Médicales, Centre Jean Perrin, Clermont-Ferrand F-63011, France

Corresponding author at: Service de Cytogénétique Médicale, CHU, UFR Médecine, Place Henri Dunant - BP 38, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 1, France. Tel.: +33 4 73 17 81 10; fax: +33 4 73 26 91 82.

PII: S0145-2126(09)00252-5

doi:10.1016/j.leukres.2009.05.003

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