Clinical importance of myeloid antigen expression in Moroccan patients with adult B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Abstract

The prognostic significance of myeloid antigen (MyAg) expression in acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL), especially in adult patients, is still controversial. In the present report, frequency and clinical significance of MyAg (CD13 and/or CD33) in blast cells were assessed in 80 consecutive adult (≥18 years) patients with B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), representing 66.7% of 120 patients diagnosed as having ALL during the study period. Immunophenotyping was used to classify leukemic cells as Bor Tlymphoblasts and to identify the aberrant expression of myeloid-associated antigens. MyAg expression was documented in 52.5% of the 80 B-ALL cases analyzed. CD13 was the most commonly antigen expressed (36.3%) followed by CD33 (28.8%). No significant associations were found between the expression of MyAg and the presence of known adverse prognostic features (eg: age>30 years, male gender, high WBC count and Philadelphia positivity). Also, we failed to observe any statistically significant difference between MyAg-positive and MyAg-negative patients in terms of achievement of complete remission and overall survival at 3 years. This study demonstrates that the presence of MyAg on lymphoblastic cells lacks prognostic value In Moroccan patients with adult B-ALL.

The Immunophenotype of Adult T Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Morocco

“…All EDTA-anticoagulated PB/ BM samples were immediately transported to the Cytometery Laboratory of the National Hygiene Institute of Morocco for immunophenotyping. All the samples were evaluated by flow cytometry, using CD45 expression vs side scatter to analyze the blast cell population as described earlier [4]. T-lymphoid antigens included CD1a, CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7 and CD8; B-lymphoid antigens included CD10, CD19, CD22, and cytoplasmic CD79a.…”

Three Patients with Multiple Myeloma Developing Secondary Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Case Reports and Review of the Literature

“…In the past, it was believed that the prognosis of ALL showing expression of myeloid antigen (Mye(+)ALL) was poorer than that of ALL with no myeloid antigen expression (Mye(–)ALL). However, recent papers suggested that there was no significant difference ­between the prognosis of these 2 groups (22–23–25). As previously mentioned, our 3 cases were different from those described in other reports.…”