Spontaneous regression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: clinical and biological features of 9 cases

We describe 9 CLL patients who underwent a spontaneous clinical regression. CD38 and ZAP-70 were negative in all cases. Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IgVH) genes, mutated in all 7 evaluable patients, were restricted to the VH3 family in 6, with the usage of VH3-30 gene in 2. The light chain variable region genes were mutated in 6/8 cases, with the usage of V4-1 gene in 3. Microarray analysis of CLL cells revealed a distinctive genomic profile. The number of activated T lymphocytes expressing IFN-, TNF- and IL-4 was similar between CLL in spontaneous regression and healthy individuals.

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Del Giudice I, Chiaretti S, Tavolaro S, De Propris MS, Maggio R, Mancini F, Peragine N, Santangelo S, Marinelli M, Mauro FR, Guarini A, Foà R