Need Help With Understanding New Test Results

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I am a fairly new (and what I originally though to be typical) CLL patient - DX

in July 2009, have been seeing an oncologist who specializes in this and so far

he's pleased. Most recent stats:

WBC - 35.4

RBC - 4.28

HGB - 13.8

MPV - 5.8

Neut% - 25

LY% - 71

Netrophils - 25

Lymphocytes - 71

WBC has only doubled in a year - so far so good. However, he just ran what he

called a 'prognosis' set of labs 2 months ago (Genoptix)and some of the results

are not only confusing, they're a bit disturbing. Would like Dr. Furman's (or

anyone who know's) take on some of these findings:

lgVH Hypermutation Analysis -

Flow Cytometry Report

Interpretation: " . . . " In summary, the immunophenotype is consistent with a

CD5-positive mature B-lymphoid neoplasm. Expression of CD23 favors chronic

lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, partial expressof FMC7 is not typical for

CLL. If clinically indicated, cytogenetics/FISH studies for t(11:14) may be

helpful in ruling out mantle cell lymphoma "

also " The neoplastic cells (CD19/CD5 dual-positive) demonstrate low ZAP-70

expression, but 87% are positive for CD38. Should this turn out to be an

atypical CLL/SLL, lack of expression of the tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 has been

associated with a more favorable clinical course, but greater than 30% of CD38

may portend an unfavorable clinical course. lgVH studies are pending and will

be reported separately. "

finally - " CLL and IGH-CCND1 FISH: Abnormal results with 11q-

FISH analysis utilizing probes specific for aberrations commonly associated

with CLL (including ATM(11q-), +12, 13q- and TP53 (17p-) and the t(11;14) is

performed. These studies detect the loss of one copy of the 11q22.3-specific

signal (ATM deletion) in 88% (176/200) of nuclei examined. The del (11q) is

associated with an unfavorable prognosis in CLL. The remaining probes do not

detect aberrations in the 200 nuclei/probe examined.

Cytogenetic testing results are reviewed and correlated with clinical

inforamtion and other laboratory finds. These results, together with flow

cytometry data, are consistent with CLL and may portend an unfavorable clinical

course. "

Obviously, especially as a fairly new patient, this new test is " Greek " to me.

I have been going under the impression that I was going to be on " watch and

wait " for quite a while before treatment but these comments are a little

worrying to me - do these mean that I won't respond to FCR (and/or other

treatments) like a normal CLL patient - any thoughts? My doctor wouldn't be

specific but his comments led me to believe I might be looking at treatment

within several years, rather than maybe 10 years like I originally thought. Any

comments would sure be appreciated.

Thanks

TxMtnBoy

Dallas