Hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents the major risk factor for mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), a small-vessel vasculitis that may evolve into an overt B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Here, we aimed to identify a biomarker signature for the early diagnosis of minimal residual disease (MRD). We assessed free light chains (FLCs), IgMk and IgMλ heavy-light chain (HLC) pairs, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in sera from 34 patients with MC vasculitis (32 HCV- and 2 HBV-related), treated with low-dose rituximab (RTX). FLCs and IgM HLCs were measured by turbidimetric assay; VEGF by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. After RTX, the positive (complete + partial) clinical and laboratory responses were of 85.29% and 50% respectively; in contrast, the mean levels of FLCs, IgM HLCs and VEGF were substantially unaffected in most patients and still above the normal range. In those achieving a reduction of FLCs and IgM k and λ chains values within the range of normality, we found that post-treatment free λ chains and IgM k values correlated with clinical and laboratory response. Our results suggest that high levels of FLCs, IgM HLCs and VEGF could represent the signature of "dormant" B cell clones' activity that could be very useful to identify MRD indicative of possible relapse or worsening outcome.

Basile, U., Gulli, F., Napodano, C., Pocino, K., Basile, V., Marrapodi, R., Colantuono, S., Todi, L., Marino, M., Rapaccini, G. L., Visentini, M., Biomarkers of minimal residual disease in rituximab-treated patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia, <<BIOTECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY>>, 2020; 2020 (Apr 25): N/A-N/A. [doi:10.1002/bab.1929] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/152467]

Biomarkers of minimal residual disease in rituximab-treated patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia

Basile, Umberto
Primo
;
Napodano, Cecilia;Pocino, Krizia;Marino, Mariapaola
;
Rapaccini, Gian Ludovico
Penultimo
;
2020

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) represents the major risk factor for mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), a small-vessel vasculitis that may evolve into an overt B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Here, we aimed to identify a biomarker signature for the early diagnosis of minimal residual disease (MRD). We assessed free light chains (FLCs), IgMk and IgMλ heavy-light chain (HLC) pairs, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in sera from 34 patients with MC vasculitis (32 HCV- and 2 HBV-related), treated with low-dose rituximab (RTX). FLCs and IgM HLCs were measured by turbidimetric assay; VEGF by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. After RTX, the positive (complete + partial) clinical and laboratory responses were of 85.29% and 50% respectively; in contrast, the mean levels of FLCs, IgM HLCs and VEGF were substantially unaffected in most patients and still above the normal range. In those achieving a reduction of FLCs and IgM k and λ chains values within the range of normality, we found that post-treatment free λ chains and IgM k values correlated with clinical and laboratory response. Our results suggest that high levels of FLCs, IgM HLCs and VEGF could represent the signature of "dormant" B cell clones' activity that could be very useful to identify MRD indicative of possible relapse or worsening outcome.
2020
Inglese
Basile, U., Gulli, F., Napodano, C., Pocino, K., Basile, V., Marrapodi, R., Colantuono, S., Todi, L., Marino, M., Rapaccini, G. L., Visentini, M., Biomarkers of minimal residual disease in rituximab-treated patients with mixed cryoglobulinemia, <<BIOTECHNOLOGY AND APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY>>, 2020; 2020 (Apr 25): N/A-N/A. [doi:10.1002/bab.1929] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/152467]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10807/152467
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