Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

• Published in: Leukemia & lymphoma Vol. 10; no. 4-5; p. 265
• Main Authors: Del Giglio, A, O'Brien, S, Ford, Jr, R J, Manning, J, Saya, H, Keating, M, Johnston, D, Chamone, D F, Deisseroth, A B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 1993
• Subjects: Antigens, Neoplasm - biosynthesis; Antigens, Neoplasm - genetics; Biomarkers, Tumor - biosynthesis; Biomarkers, Tumor - genetics; Cell Division; DNA Repair; Drug Resistance; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic; Humans; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - drug therapy; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - immunology; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins - biosynthesis; Neoplasm Proteins - genetics; Nuclear Proteins - biosynthesis; Nuclear Proteins - genetics; Prognosis; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; Vidarabine - analogs & derivatives; Vidarabine - pharmacology; Vidarabine - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 1042-8194
• DOI: 10.3109/10428199309148548

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is usually an indolent disorder which in some patients assumes an aggressive clinical course. In order to assess at presentation the prognosis of a given patient, several staging systems and prognostic variables have been proposed including the expression of the Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA). PCNA is a 36 kd nuclear protein, the regulation of which is cell cycle-dependent. In CLL, PCNA levels correlate with cell proliferation, clinical stage and the lymphocyte doubling time (LDT). Furthermore, preliminary data suggests that PCNA expression may also predict response to Fludarabine-based chemotherapy. Since PCNA is a cofactor for Delta DNA polymerase, PCNA overexpression in CLL may also reflect the intrinsic DNA repair activity of the leukemic cells and thus their resistance to chemotherapy. Further studies aiming at modulation of PCNA expression in CLL cells may clarify this issue and may offer a future new therapeutic strategy with which to treat this disorder.