title: Morphologic and cytochemical characterization of adult lymphoid leukemias which express myeloid antigen.
abstract: Cancer and Leukemia Group B demonstrated that adults with acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) possessing blast cells with myeloid antigens (My+ALL), as identified by monoclonal antibodies against CD13 and CD33, have a worse prognosis than those lacking myeloid antigens (My-ALL). Consequently, we further studied this group of adults with ALL to determine if these immunological groups could be distinguished by morphological and cytochemical criteria. Bone marrow films were classified according to French-American-British Co-operative Group Criteria, assessed for myelodysplasia, and examined for blasts with azurophilic granules. More cases of My+ALL had L2 morphology than did My-ALL (68% vs. 49%, p = 0.04), and more cases of My+ALL were positive for acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (61% vs. 31%, p = 0.03). The presence of myelodysplastic changes was not significantly different in My+ALL (13%) as compared to My-ALL (5%), but more cases of My+ALL had unusual blasts (monocytoid features and cytoplasmic buds) than did My-ALL (19% vs. 0%, p less than 0.01). In addition, more cases of My+ALL had greater than 5% of the blasts with azurophilic granules (42% vs. 13%, p = 0.01). In the My+ALL group the presence of azurophilic granules was associated with a longer median survival (13.5 months vs. 1.5 months, p less than 0.01). We conclude that My+ALL can be suspected when cases possess L2 morphology, unusual blasts, positive staining for acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase, and greater than 5% azurophilic granules. In addition, the poor risk group (My+ALL) can be further subdivided into better and poorer risk subgroups based on the presence of azurophilic granules.
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Leukemia Group B, Brookline, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Davey
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mick
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: MacCallum
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Sobol
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Royston
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cuttner
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Ellison
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bloomfield
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis*; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation