title: Immunologic and ultrastructural heterogeneity of acute lymphoblastic leukemia-associated antigen-positive human leukemias.
abstract: To further examine the heterogeneity of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia, an immunologic and ultrastructural study was undertaken on 14 patients positive for the acute lymphoblastic leukemia-associated antigen (ALLA). In malignant cells from 7 of the patients studied, cytoplasmic granular inclusions that resembled those seen in leukemia mast cells and basophils (M-B granules) were evident. Four patients had malignant cells expressing the pre-B-cell phenotype (i.e., cytoplasmic IgM-positive and surface immunoglobulin-negative), and 3 patients had malignant cells that lacked both M-B granules and cytoplasmic IgM. These results support the existence of distinct phenotypic subgroups within the ALLA+ leukemias.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D001491:Basophils / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002460:Cell Line; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007223:Infant; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000276:immunology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D007075:Immunoglobulin M