Detection of continuous erythropoietin receptor activator in blood and urine in anti-doping control

by lymphocytes and it is expected that its levels steadily increase together with the progressive expansion of the leukemic clone suggesting a close correlation between stage (which measures tumor burden) and 2m levels. Although a correlation with disease stage likely exists, there was a substantial proportion of patients with high 2-m levels already at Binet A stage (low tumor burden). Possibly, CLL cells from these patients are more activated in vivo and shed more abundant 2m. Taken all the above into consideration, the data indicate that the role of 2-m as a prognostic tool should be re-evaluated possibly in prospective studies involving large patient cohorts.