Characterization and Monitoring of the Malignant Cells in the Elastic and Chronic Phase of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

A 13-year-old-boy presented with a lymphoid blast crisis of chronic myeloid leukemia, without a preceding chronic phase. The lymphoid and myeloid leukemic cell populations were studied with double immunofluorescence staining. The myeloid cells were positive for the monoclonal antibodies VIM-D5 (myeloid marker) and B13 (mature myeloid marker) and negative for VIL-A1 (cALL marker), HLA-DR and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT). The lymphoid cells were positive for the monoclonal antibodies VIL-A1 and HLA-DR and for TdT; these cells were negative for VIM-D5. The fate of the myeloid and lymphoid leukemic cells in bone marrow and blood was monitored during therapy. By using VIM-D5 and VIL-A1 as marker the two leukemic cell populations were separated by means of the FACS. Both cell types carried a complex Ph1 translocation t(4;9;22). The lymphoid leukemic cells showed additional aberrations.