Abstract 7651: Evaluating epigenetic markers for naive, memory and overall B cells for disease diagnosis and prognosis in patients with B-CLL

Abstract

Abstract Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a hematological cancer classified as low-malignancy non-Hodgkin lymphoma that accounts for approximately a quarter of all leukemias. Since only some patients will develop aggressive cancer and require treatment, accurate disease prognosis is crucial. A wide range of parameters with prognostic value have been described, including age, clinical stage, mutational status, protein markers, and flow cytometry levels of CD19+CD38+ B cells above 20%. Here, we investigated epigenetic markers for B cell types including a marker for overall B cells, naïve B cells, memory B cells and IgM positive B cells in a cohort of more than 40 patients with B-CLL. When comparing to a cohort of more than 100 healthy donors, the epigenetic B cell marker identified all patients with 100% sensitivity and specificity. In addition, the epigenetic B cell markers for naïve and memory B cells identified with high sensitivity and excellent specificity a subgroup of B-CLL patients with CD19+CD38+ B cell levels above 20% which is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. The results suggest that the epigenetic analysis of B cells in capillary blood may be a promising tool for B-CLL diagnosis and disease prognosis. Citation Format: Konstantin Schildknecht, Kati Bourquain, Jeannette Werner, Janika Schulze, Steffi Walter, Eva Raschke, Deborah Phippard, Angelina Bisconte, Barbara Seliger, Claudia Wickenhauser, Sven Olek. Evaluating epigenetic markers for naive, memory and overall B cells for disease diagnosis and prognosis in patients with B-CLL [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7651.