title: Surface markers and prognostic factors in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: We investigated the surface markers on lymphoblasts from 37 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Spontaneous rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes (E rosettes) identified T cells and the presence of surface immunoglobulin identified B cells. Eight patients had T-marker lymphoblasts; 28 had no markers (null lymphoblasts), and one patient had B-marker lymphoblasts. The eight patients with T-marker acute lymphoblastic leukemia had massive leukemic infiltration, frequently a mediastinal mass, and a poor prognosis. The T-marker lymphoblasts had a weak or negative periodic acid-Schiff reaction and a very low antigenic stimulation to allogeneic lymphocytes. The association of T-marker lymphoblasts and some of the conventional poor-risk factors appears to be reliable in predicting a poor prognosis.
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007104:Immune Adherence Reaction; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008940:Mitotic Index; D010504:Periodic Acid; D011379:Prognosis; D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell / Q000032:analysis*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D011947:Receptors, Antigen, B-Cell; D010504:Periodic Acid