Multi-drug resistance mediated by P-glycoprotein overexpression is not correlated with ZAP-70/CD38 expression in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

ZAP-70 and CD38 expression can identify B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia with an inferior clinical outcome. Many groups have investigated the meaning of the expression of these two proteins and the correlation with the bad prognosis in B-CLL. But nobody has investigated the relation between the multidrug resistance mediated by Pgp overexpression (MDR1) and ZAP-70/CD38 coexpression. Forty-one untreated and stage A patients, either ZAP-70⁺CD38⁺ or ZAP-70⁻CD38⁻, were tested to determine the MDR1 status. MDR1 was observed in 41% of CLL ZAP-70⁺CD38⁺ and in 37% of CLL ZAP-70⁻CD38⁻. The difference was not significant (p = 0.745). Patients with ZAP-70 and CD38 positive CLL can not be candidates for MDR1 antagonists.

Keywords:

• ZAP-70
• CD38
• chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• multidrug resistance
• rhodamine 123