Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Gene Mutations in Chronic Lymphoid Leukemia

Abstract

Chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukemia in adults in western countries and is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease. Although the diseaseusually follows a slow course, significant survival differences are observed depending on clinical and biological factors. Some patients with CLL do not need treatment for many years, while others need urgent treatment. It is noteworthy that staging systems are inadequate in patient follow-up and predicting the course of the disease. Therefore, parameters that determine prognosis in CLL independent of disease stage have been developed. In recent years, mutation status of Immunoglobulin heavy chain variableregion(IgVH) genes has emerged as a strong marker for prognosis in CLL. Patients with CLL are divided into 2 subgroups with different clinical courses according to the mutation status in the IgVH genes: one refers to mutated IgVH segments with a more favorable clinical course and the other refers to non-mutated IgVH segments associated with a poor outcome. In this study, we will try to clarify the relationship between IgVH mutation status and CLL prognosis and survival.