Angiogenesis in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia: methods of study, clinical significance and prognostic implications

Leuk Lymphoma. 2001 Aug;42(4):603-7. doi: 10.3109/10428190109099320.

Abstract

Recent studies indicate that angiogenesis may be involved in the pathogenesis of certain hematological malignancies. However as far as B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is concerned, current data dealing with the evaluation of bone marrow (BM) microvessel density, a marker of angiogenesis grade, do not as yet provide definitive results. It is now clear that the mRNA isoforms VEGF121 and VEGF 165 are expressed by B-CLL cells. In addition, low cellular and high serum levels of VEGF correlated with a poor clinical outcome. Although these data do not as yet show that angiogenesis is essential for B-CLL, it may indeed be relevant in the leukemic process so characteristic of this diseases.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bone Marrow / blood supply*
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / blood
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / genetics
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / etiology
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / mortality
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / pathology*
  • Lymphokines / blood
  • Lymphokines / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / physiopathology*
  • Prognosis
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Substances

  • Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Lymphokines
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors