Evaluation of white blood cells based Epstein-Barr virus copy numbers in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients as a new prognostic biomarker

Introduction: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common adult leukemia. Although the potential role of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in CLL remained controversial, EBV-DNA load might be involved in CLL ethiopathogenesis. This cross-sectional study aimed to define the prognostic reliability of EBV viral load in CLL patients in comparison to other common prognostic factors. Methods: Whole blood and sera of forty untreated CLL patients were collected. Then, DNA was extracted from the total white blood cells and TaqMan real-time PCR was performed to determine the EBV-DNA load. Also, parameters including CBC and serum Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were analyzed by the clinical laboratory autoanalyzer. Result: The mean age of patients was ۶۲.۲۵ ± ۱۰.۴۹ years old, ranged ۴۲ to ۷۷ years. ۳۰% (۱۲) of patients were females and ۷۰% (۲۸) were males. Real-time PCR showed that ۲۱ (۵۲.۵%) patients were positive for EBV. LDH concentration was marginally significant between EBV positive and negative patients (P = ۰.۰۵). Moreover, platelet (PLT) count (P = ۰.۰۳) and malignant cell count (P = ۰.۰۴) were significantly different between EBV positive and negative subgroups. Also, high EBV load was significantly associated with deletion ۱۱q (P= ۰.۱۱). In addition, EBV-DNA copy numbers were significantly higher in patients with an aggressive form of disease, categorized based on LDH increase PLT decrease and ۱۱q deletion. Conclusion: The results indicated that the EBV- DNA load could be integrated into the initial evaluation of CLL patients as a prognostic factor to better define the outcome and prognosis of the disease.

کلیدواژه ها:

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia ، Epstein-Barr virus ، viral load ، prognostic factor