Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Dysregulation of microRNA expression could attenuate the course of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Therefore, the aim of our study is to address the association between miR-29a expression and other prognostic markers in CLL patients. METHODS: miR-29a expression was determined by quantitative real-time PCR in the plasma of 158 CLL patients at diagnosis beside 21 healthy controls in a prospective study. RESULTS: The levels of miR-29a expression were found to be significantly higher in CLL patients as compared to healthy controls (P<0.001). Moreover, a significant association between high miR-29a expression and poor prognostic markers (high expression of CD38 and ZAP70, high LDH levels, Stage III Rai stage, unfavorable cytogenetic finding, time to first treatment (TTFT) and patients outcome (P<0.001 for All). Using ROC curve, we have reported that miR-29a expression levels (29a<0.76 vs >0.76) is able to discriminate severity subgroups of CLL patients. CONCLUSION: Up regulation of miR-29a expression at CLL diagnosis was detected. Determination of miR-29a expression concentration levels at diagnosis could be demonstrated as a prognostic biomarker in CLL patients.