ROR1 (transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptor) is a key
component of WNT/PCP signaling pathway expressed on the surface
of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells (CLL), but not on healthy
B-cells or other blood cells. The aim of this diploma thesis
was to analyse ROR1 expression in B-cells of CLL patients in
different stage of disease. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed
ROR1 expression in CLL cells in both treated and untreated
patients. We also confirmed ROR1 expression on mRNA level using
qRT-PCR a and showed that the average rate of ROR1 gene
expression detected in treated patients was twice as high as in
untreated patients. We also tested ROR1 as a marker for CLL
cell separation methods. Comparing several separation
procedures we confirmed that ROR1 protein is a suitable marker
and that the separation methods based on cell surface ROR1
expression are efficient in separating CLL cells from healthy
B-cells in patients with low CLL cell proportion. Our results
also confirmed that ROR1 epression is neither decreasing nor
disappearing due to the therapy effect. Therefore ROR1 is
undoubtedly a perspective therapeutic target which can be
successfully used in cell separation.