Surface immunoglobulin on B lymphocytes as a potential target for specific peptide ligands in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

With the aim of producing unique targets for malignant cells we have identified peptide ligands for the clonal surface immunoglobulin isolated from the B cells of a chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patient. The peptides were identified from random-peptide phage-display libraries. The obtained ligands bound specifically to the surface of the target lymphocytes as well as to clonal immunoglobulin in lysate from the same cells. Peptide-based antigen mimotopes may have a future use in targeted therapy of CLL and other B-cell-derived malignancies displaying surface immunoglobulin.