CD38 as a prognostic marker in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia at a single New Zealand centre: patient survival in comparison to age- and sex-matched population data

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine whether the analysis of CD38 expression by chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) cells provides useful additional prognostic information. Methods: Clinical, laboratory, overall survival (OS) and treatment‐free survival (TFS) data were collected on 130 CLL patients who had CD38 expression analysed at Canterbury Health Laboratories, New Zealand (NZ) during 1998–2008. Results: The detection of any level of CD38 expression by CLL cells was associated with a significantly shorter OS and TFS. When analysis was restricted to Binet stage A patients, CD38 expression identified a subset of patients (21%) who, in common with Binet stage B/C patients, had a significantly shorter OS and TFS (P < 0.0015), and a TFS at 4 years of