DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA (CLL)

摘要

The present invention provides diagnostic methods and kits for diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) by determining expression levels of isoforms of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) associated with CLL particularly, PDE7B and/or PDE3B, and a ratio of mRNA expression of PDE7B to PDE3B. The present invention provides that CLL lymphocytes uniformly expressed high levels of PDE7B and low levels of PDE3B relative to those of normal lymphocytes. A method of treatment and a pharmaceutical composition for CLL comprising one or more therapeutic agents capable of modulating expression or activity levels of isoforms of PDEs associated with CLL, and/or reversing the ratio of PDE7B/PDE3B mRNA expression levels are also provided.