A study looking at the genetics of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

Cancer type:

Blood cancers

Chronic leukaemia

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)

Leukaemia

Status:

Results

Phase:

Other

This study tried to find out more about the genes that might cause chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

More about this trial

In this study the researchers looked at the family history and genes of a large number of people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and compared them with people who do not have CLL.

The aim of this study was to identify genes that might increase the risk of CLL.

Summary of results

The study team identified 10 changes in genes that might increase the risk of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).

About this study

This study was part of a meta analysis Open a glossary item

to identify new gene changes that might increase the risk of CLL. There were 4 studies in the meta analysis. The total number of people in the studies were:

3,100 people who had CLL
7,667 who didn’t have CLL

The gene changes researchers looked for are called single nucleotide polymorphisms Open a glossary item

(SNPs).

After identifying promising SNPs, the team repeated the process to check that the results could be used for everyone and were reliable. This is called a replication study. In this study there were:

1,958 people who had CLL
5,530 people who didn’t have CLL

Results

Previously 13 SNPs have been identified as being linked to the risk of CLL.

In this study the team have identified a further 10 SNPs that might increase the risk of CLL.

The place where 5 of these SNPs are located on the DNA suggest that they could be involved with the programmed death (apoptosis Open a glossary item

) of CLL cells.

Conclusion

This study adds support to the importance of gene changes have in the development of CLL. Further studies are needed to find out:

how this might be able to suggest new ways to prevent and treat CLL
the importance of the 5 SNPs that might be involved in CLL cell death

Where this information comes from

We have based this summary on information from the research team. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists (peer reviewed Open a glossary item

) and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team who did the research. We have not analysed the data ourselves

Recruitment start:

03/11/2010

Recruitment end:

30/11/2014

How to join a clinical trial

Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.

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Chief Investigator

Professor Angela Cox

Supported by

Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
University of Sheffield
University of Utah

If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses

Freephone 0808 800 4040

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