title: An analysis of morphological, cytochemical, immunological and clinical features of adult T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Morphological, cytochemical, immunological and clinical features of 19 adult patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) were investigated at the time of diagnosis and were compared with those of 34 adult patients affected by B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Immunophenotypic studies employing a wide panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) revealed a heterogeneous pattern of antigen expression in the five T-ALL groups that were identified on the basis of blast T cell differentiation levels. PAS (periodic acid Schiff) negativity and focal AP (acid phosphatase) positivity, as well as white blood cell count and serum lactic dehydrogenase levels, were significantly related to T-ALL when compared with B-ALL. On the contrary, no statistically significant difference was demonstrated in the clinical outcome.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Ematologia, Ospedale A. Cardarelli, Napoli.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Del Vecchio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fasanaro
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rametta
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ronconi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Montuori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001402:B-Lymphocytes; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D010503:Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase