title: Immunological definition of acute promyelocytic leukemia (FAB M3): a study of 39 cases.
abstract: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (FAB-M3) is a distinct entity among acute non-lymphoid leukemias (ANLL) with peculiar morphological, biological, clinical and prognostic features. An atypical form of M3 (M3v) could be confused with other FAB ANLL and therefore the diagnosis of this variant requires ultrastructural analysis and/or cytogenetic study and/or selective gene rearrangement studies. The immunological phenotype of blast cells in 39 APL patients was studied at diagnosis. The diagnosis of M3 FAB type was ascertained in 32 and the diagnosis of M3v in 7 cases. Using a large series of monoclonal antibodies (mAb), the APL blast cells were B and T cell antigens-negative, HLA-DR constantly negative, CD13- and/or CD33-positive, CD9-positive. Among ANLL this phenotype seems to be closely related to APL both in M3 type and M3v subtype. Because the diagnosis of APL (M3 or M3v) is important in order to establish the specific therapeutic approach, the discriminant capacity of the immunological typing to identify M3 and mainly M3v (hypogranular) could be determinant for a "quick" diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biopathology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Rossi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avvisati
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coluzzi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fenu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: LoCoco
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nanni
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pasqualetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mandelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D018826:CD13 Antigens; D002648:Child; D002884:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015473:Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D008875:Middle Aged; D063268:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3; D060245:Tetraspanin 29; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; C571163:CD33 protein, human; C554869:CD9 protein, human; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D063268:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3; D060245:Tetraspanin 29; D018826:CD13 Antigens