Mcl-1 expression predicts progression-free survival in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients treated with pentostatin, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab

Farrukh T. Awan, Neil E. Kay, Melanie E. Davis, Wenting Wu, Susan M. Geyer, Nelson Leung, Diane F. Jelinek, Renee C. Tschumper, Charla R. Secreto, Thomas S. Lin, Michael R. Grever, Tait D. Shanafelt, Clive S. Zent, Timothy G. Call, Nyla A. Heerema, Gerard Lozanski, John C. Byrd, David M. Lucas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) is an antiapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 protein family. Increased Mcl-1 expression is associated with failure to achieve remission after treatment with fludarabine and chlorambucil in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, the influence of Mcl-1 expression has not been examined in CLL trials using chemoimmunotherapy. We investigated Mcl-1 protein expression prospectively as part of a phase 2 study evaluating the efficacy of pentostatin, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab in patients with untreated CLL. No significant difference by Mcl-1 expression was noted in pretreatment or response parameters. However, in patients with higher Mcl-1 expression, both minimal residual disease-negative status and progression-free survival was found to be significantly reduced (57% vs 19%, P = .01; 50.8 vs 18.7 months; P = .02; respectively). Mcl-1 expression may therefore be useful in predicting poor response to chemoimmunotherapy. These findings further support pursuing treatment strategies targeting this important antiapoptotic protein. (Because the trials described were conducted before the requirement to register them was implemented, they are not registered in a clinical trial database.)

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)535-537
Number of pages3
JournalBlood
Volume113
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 15 2009
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Immunology
  • Hematology
  • Cell Biology

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