Clinical and immunological findings in large B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
In order to define the characteristics of B-CLL cases in which the predominant cell population is composed of large lymphocytes, we studied 97 patients with B-CLL, comparing the cell morphological features with the clinical and biological findings and the immunological phenotype of the proliferating cells. Multivariant analysis showed that there were three significantly different morphological groups: Typical CLL, large lymphocyte CLL (LLL), and CLL with prolymphocytes (CLL/PL). The LLL group showed a greater incidence of lymphadenopathies (P less than 0.05) and higher percentages of both mu + delta + cells (P less than 0.01) and Fmc/7+ cells (P less than 0.001) than in typical CLL. The main differences between LLL and CLL/PL were the peripheral blood lymphocyte count and the percentage of Fmc/7+ cells (P less than 0.002)--both higher in the CLL/PL group--and the percentage of mouse rosette-forming cells (P less than 0.01)--lower in CLL/PL. Further studies including functional assays and survival analyses could contribute to elucidating whether these groups are different entities or a single disease with marked heterogeneity.
Orfao
A
A
Servicio de Hematologia, Hospital Universitario, Salamanca, Spain.
Gonzalez
M
M
San Miguel
J F
JF
Cañizo
M C
MC
Galindo
P
P
Caballero
M D
MD
Jimenez
R
R
Lopez Borrasca
A
A
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D013154:Spleen / Q000473:pathology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm