WNT3 and LEF1 as markers for diagnosis and survival prediction in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

The Wnt pathway is aberrantly activated in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and contributes to the antiapoptotic and mitogenic characteristics of CLL cells. Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor‑1 (LEF1) acts as a mediator and key transcription factor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. LEF1 helps to regulate important genes involved in tumor cell death mechanisms. To analyze the expression levels of Wnt signaling pathway member (WNT3) and its key mediator LEF1 in Egyptian CLL patients and to detect the potential use of these genes as markers of CLL outcome. We quantified the expression levels of Wnt3 and LEF1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 30 untreated CLL and 19 healthy controls by qRT-PCR (quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction). Our study demonstrated significant upregulation of both Wnt3 and LEF1 in CLL (P  0.9). Upregulation of WNT3 and LEF1 could be used as helpful and specific markers to distinguish our CLL patients. Low WNT3 and LEF1 expression is associated with shortened survival in CLL patients. These results indicate that WNT3 and LEF1 represent an attractive therapeutic target for future therapies in Egyptian CLL patients.