Prognostic markers and Cancer

Hematological malignancies are associated with hematopoietic cells that have lost the capacity to differentiate normally to mature blood cells. Intreleukin-18 (IL-8) and matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) might be involved in the proliferation of certain leukemic cells, tumor growth and metastasis. A prognostic factor is defined as a clinical measurement that could be predicted by response to treatment associated with overall survival. Determination of prognostic factors is especially important in malignant patients. We aim to investigate the expression of IL-8 and MMP-2 in various hematological malignancies including acute lymphatic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia to assess the relation between these markers, the clinical signs and laboratory finding, to predict the response to treatment and prognosis.