Stem Cells, Vol 13, 428-434, Copyright © 1995 by AlphaMed Press
The presence of lymphoid-associated antigens in adult acute myeloid leukemia is devoid of prognostic relevance
F Lauria, D Raspadori, MA Ventura, D Rondelli, N Testoni, P Tosi, M Michieli, D Damiani, MR Motta and S Tura
Istituto di Scienze Mediche, Universita di Milano, Italy.
The immunophenotype of 110 adult patients with diagnosis of acute
myeloblastic leukemia (AML) was analyzed using a wide panel of monoclonal
antibodies (mAbs). Leukemic blasts were tested by applying direct
immunofluorescence analysis and dual-fluorescence staining, and two groups
of patients were identified: 56/110 (51%) expressing only myeloid antigens
(My/AML) and 54/110 (49%) expressing both myeloid and lymphoid antigens
(Ly/AML). CD13 and CD33 were expressed in almost all FAB subtypes, whereas
CD14, frequently expressed in M4 and M5 subtypes (70%), was rarely
expressed in M0 + M1 cases (9%). On the contrary, CD34, expressed in 77% of
M0 + M1 cases, was practically absent in M3 and M5 subtypes (6% and 7%,
respectively). CD2 and CD7 antigens were found in 34% and 42% of patients
respectively, whereas B cell- associated antigens, such as CD10 and CD19,
were found in 31% and 18% of patients. Cytogenetic abnormalities
characteristically present in AML patients were also analyzed and, except
for t(8;21) which was found in both groups of patients, the other
abnormalities were frequently found in cases coexpressing
lymphoid-associated antigens. Finally, the complete remission (CR) rate,
survival and event-free survival were analyzed according to the presence of
lymphoid markers and also of some specific antigens such as CD7 and CD34.
The only prognostic difference was represented by CD34+ patients who showed
a reduction in the CR rate compared with CD34- patients (65% versus 82%) (p
= 0.05) which became more evident when the mean intensity of fluorescence
was considered.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
