Flow cytometry in hairy cell leukemia before and during interferon alfa-2b therapy.
Mononuclear cells from 15 patients with hairy cell leukemia were studied before and during therapy with interferon alfa-2b (IFN) by regular peripheral blood differential counts and flow cytometry, using a panel of monoclonal antibodies (Moab). Seven leukemic phase patients (Group 1) had a mean leukocyte count of 48,870/microliter at entry with a mean absolute hairy cell (HC) count of 40,100/microliter. After 3 months on IFN, both parameters decreased significantly (WBC 3,500/microliter; HC count 130/microliter). In eight patients with a cytopenic form of the disease (Group 2) the mean leukocyte count rose from 2950/microliter to 3890/microliter while the mean absolute HC count decreased from 300/microliter to 120/microliter. The morphologic shifts correlated well with changes in the Moab reaction pattern. In Group 1 the activity of all Moab decreased significantly. In Group 2, only cells expressing Leu 3a and Leu 11a (a marker of natural killer cells) showed a significant shift, the latter increasing from 170/microliter to 360/microliter. This increase in natural killer cell antigen expression was not obvious based on routine morphologic observations alone. We show that flow cytometry may be a useful adjunct in monitoring the response of HCL to therapy. Changes in populations of cells that may be difficult to discriminate on morphologic grounds alone may be observed.
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D007370:Interferon Type I