Immunophenotype of Chinese Patients with T-Lineage Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Its Association to Biological and Clinical Features

Abstract

Background/Aims: To investigate the immunophenotype of 46 Chinese patients with T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and its association with biological and clinical features. Methods: 46 patients with T-ALL were immunophenotyped by flow cytometry, and 30 cases were also subjected to karyotype analysis by R-banding technology. The clinical and biological characteristics of T-ALL patients between MyAg+ and MyAg– groups were analyzed. Results: Myeloid antigen (MyAg) expression was documented in 41.3% of the 46 T-ALL cases. Abnormal karyotypes were detected in 17 out of 30 (56.7%) cases. Our data showed that the median lowest white blood cell (WBC) count and lowest hemoglobin level, higher CD34 positivity, and a lower proportion of patients with splenomegaly were found to be correlated with MyAg+ T-ALL. No statistical difference was noted in the complete remission (CR) rate, relapse rate, induction death rate or total death rate among MyAg+ and MyAg– patients. In our cohort, none of the antigens tested affected the CR rate after the first induction. Conclusion: Our results indicate that MyAg expression in patients with T-ALL was not associated with adverse presenting clinical and biological features as well as response to induction treatment. The expression of surface antigens had no impact on initial chemotherapy CR achievement.