A comparison of bortezomib-induced apoptosis in culture medium versus autologous plasma. CLL cells were cultured in the culture medium (A, n = 8) or 50% fresh autologous plasma (B, n = 5) and incubated with or without 20 nM of bortezomib for 12 hours. Apoptotic cell death was measured by the annexin V assay with flow cytometry. *Statistically significant difference (P < .001) between treated and control as analyzed by the t test. (C) Effect of HSA or quercetin on bortezomib-induced apoptosis. DoHH2 cells were preincubated with HSA or HSA plus quercetin for 1 hour at 37°C and then treated with 20 nM bortezomib (Borte) for 16 hours. Control indicates HSA alone; Quercetin, HSA plus quercetin; Borte, HSA plus bortezomib; Q + B, quercetin plus bortezomib. (D) Dose-dependent fluorescence production was determined after quercetin was mixed with HSA. FI indicates fluorescent intensity. Data are mean plus or minus SD from 3 separate experiments. Error bars represent SD.