Immunophenotypic characterization of IgVH3-72 B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL)

The frequent expression of the otherwise rare IgVH3-72 gene was demonstrated in highly stable B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemias (B-CLLs). Here we describe the immunophenotypic profiles of eleven IgVH3-72 B-CLLs, by investigating expression of ZAP-70 and of a set of surface antigens previously demonstrated to represent the signature of distinct B-CLL prognostic groups. All IgVH3-72 B-CLLs revealed a homogeneous immunophenotypic profile, expressing all the markers associated with good prognosis, but not those representing the signature of bad prognosis B-CLLs, including ZAP-70. Our results corroborate the notion that IgVH3-72 B-CLLs represent a molecularly and immunophenotypically homogeneous disease group with a good prognosis.