Peripheral blood CD38 expression predicts survival in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

CD38 expression was investigated in 161 untreated patients with B-cell chro nic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). A score system, devised ad hoc by integra ting the percentage and the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values of CD3 8(+) cells, indicated that B-CLL patients with a CD38 score less than or eq ual to 3 are characterized by a significantly longer survival compared to t hose with a CD38 score > 3 (P = 0.0026). Thirty-seven percent of patients w ith a CD38 score less than or equal to 3 and 58% of those with a score > 3 were dead at 10 years. Multivariate analysis indicates that only the CD38 s core successfully predicts survival (P = 0.0028), with an estimated 3.8-fol d greater risk of death for those cases with CD38 score > 3. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.