Expression of VEGF protein in CLL and correlation with survival.

(A) Western blot analysis showed that the patterns of expression in most samples from patients with CLL were different from those seen in plasma and cells from patients with CML and AML. The VEGF protein expressed in CLL samples was mainly the 43-kd and 45-kd isoforms. Some samples expressed trace amounts of the 57-kd and 38-kd isoforms. (B) Patients with VEGF levels above the median had slightly better survival times (P = .07) when all patients with CLL were compared. (C) Higher levels of VEGF reflected better survival times in the subgroup of patients with low β2-M (good prognosis group). (D) High levels of VEGF correlated with better survival times in the subgroup of patients with early disease by Rai stages 0 to II.