Evaluation of immunophenotypic markers and clinico-hematological profile in chronic lymphocytic leukemia: implications for prognosis

OBJECTIVE: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is an adult leukemia presented with clonal accumulation of lymphocytes. Immunophenotypic changes can be effective in predicting clinical course, the survival of patients, and determining first-line treatment. This is a study of the association between immunophenotypic markers with complete blood cell count (CBC) values and clinical parameters. RESULTS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 35 newly diagnosed CLL patients. The expression of immunophenotypic markers and CBC were evaluated. Platelet counts and hemoglobin concentration had a significant, inverse association with Rai staging, modified Rai staging, Binet staging systems (all p < 0.001 in both parameters), and splenomegaly (p = 0.001 and 0.007, respectively). The platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR) had a significant, inverse association with Rai staging (p = 0.014), modified Rai staging (p = 0.024), Binet staging systems (p = 0.027), and splenomegaly (p = 0.033). However, CD38, CD25, and double-positive CD56/CD117 expression, group 3 of innate lymphocyte cells (ILC3s), had no significant association with clinical parameters. In regression analysis, that ILC3s has an inverse correlation with neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (r = −0.340, p = 0.046). Given that there is an inverse association between PLR and advanced clinical stages, it seems that PLR may have prognostic value in CLL.