ZAP-70


ZAP-70

(zap), Acronym for zeta-chain-associated protein.

ZAP-70

A tyrosine kinase normally expressed in T cells and NK cells. The gene for ZAP-70 is differentially expressed in patients with or without mutations of the gene for IgVH. This provides a valuable prognostic guide as to whether chronic lymphocytic leukaemia is likely to have a good or a poor outcome. ZAP-70 protein levels are can be measured much more easily than the mutational state of the IgVH gene. Zap-70 is a strong predictor of the need for treatment in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.