The limitations in utilizing phenotypic markers to detect minimal residual disease in acute leukaemias (AL).
So far, in spite of the evergrowing number of available anti-leucocyte mAb, phenotypic markers proved to be of limited value for the detection of a minimal residual disease in leukemias. The question is to detect malignant leucocytes in a normal hematological environment. However no marker is specific for the malignant state perse. In addition, many markers are not absolutely specific of a given lineage of differentiation. Consequently the precise characterization of a leukaemic population must rely on a battery of markers. Finally, normal leucocyte populations are much more heterogeneous than initially thought. Prospects for efficient methods are discussed; they rely mainly on the possibilities to enrich the malignant clone and to induce its in vitro expansion.
Bernard
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Laboratoire d'Immunologie des Tumeurs de l'Enfant, Insitut Gustave-Roussy, Villejuif, France.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens / Q000145:classification; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor