Serum copper is a simple but valuable prognostic marker in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

We investigated the relationship between serum copper and various prognostic factors, time to start treatment, and treatment response in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and related disorders. Fifty newly diagnosed CLL patients aged 36-70 years were included. Patients were studied for serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum copper, direct Coombs' test, serum β(2) microglobulin (β(2)M), immunophenotyping for diagnosis of B-CLL, evaluation of CD38 and zeta-associated protein (ZAP-70) expression, and fluorescence in situ hybridization technique for cytogenetic analysis. Fourteen of 50 patients had high serum copper level; they had a significant increase in LDH, serum β(2)M, incidence of positive Coombs' test, CD38 and ZAP-70, incidence of 17p del, and a decrease in hemoglobin concentration, lymphocyte doubling time and time to start treatment with a lower treatment response rate. No significant difference was found with regard to Rai staging for CLL. These results indicate that serum copper level, a cheap and simple laboratory test, is of great value in CLL patients as it showed a significant association with some important adverse prognostic markers such as increased expression of ZAP-70 and CD38, shorter time to start treatment and poor response to treatment.