Free Light Chains Predict Outcome in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Patients with serum FLC abnormalities experienced shorter time to first treatment and poorer survival than those with normal findings.

The serum free light chain (FLC) assay is a highly sensitive method for detecting immunoglobulin paraproteins in B-cell malignancies, including plasma-cell disorders and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). To explore the prognostic utility of FLC assays in newly diagnosed CLL, investigators conducted a prospective study that compared outcomes between patients with or without detectable monoclonal or polyclonal FLC abnormalities.

Of 339 patients, 49% had FLC abnormalities, which were nearly equally divided among monoclonal FLC, polyclonal FLC, or kappa/lambda FLC ratio abnormalities. Patients who had any of these findings at diagnosis experienced shorter time to first treatment than those who had none; for example, CLL therapy was required wi…

Reviewing Author

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee