B-Cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia - Correlation of clinical stages with angiogenic cytokine expression

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is characterized by the accumulation of non-cycling B cells in lymphatic and extralymphatic tissues. Earlier studies had validated that angiogenesis was increased in B-CLL. Increased serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) connote a poor prognosis in early-stage B-CLL. Early progression is also related to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), which inhibits B-cell proliferation and immunoglobulin production. The authors investigated the expression of CD34, VEGF, bFGF, and TGF-beta and their receptors in different stages of B-CLL by analyzing bone marrow samples from 23 patients (11 with Rai stages 0-II; 12 with stages III or IV). TGF-beta 2 was expressed more strongly in stages 0 to II than in stages. III or IV (P = 0.03). There was no significant difference in the intensity of CD34, TGF-beta 1, VEGF, and bFGF and their receptors between stages 0 to II and stages III or IV. Staining showed bFGF expression to be stronger than VEGF expression (P = 0.001). Results did not confirm an association between the intensity of angiogenesis and B-CLL stage. The expression of TGF-beta 2 was stronger in early-stage disease and may help slow disease progression.