Flow cytometric detection of neoplastic T cells in patients with mycosis fungoides based on levels of T-cell receptor expression.
The authors report the flow cytometric detection of neoplastic T cells in the peripheral blood of four out of five (80%) patients with peripheral blood involvement with mycosis fungoides (Sezary syndrome) based on the levels of T-cell receptor expression as measured by CD3 and TCR-alpha beta staining. Antigen receptor expression was abnormal in terms of increased density of surface CD3 or TCR-alpha beta per cell. Other immunophenotypic abnormalities were present in three of these patients. However, in one patient abnormal T-cell receptor expression was the only immunophenotypic evidence of neoplasia, although morphologically abnormal lymphocytes were present and a T-cell clone was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In another patient, the authors were able to detect development of a new, more aggressive neoplastic T-cell population based on levels of T-cell receptor expression. Levels of T-cell receptor expression may be of diagnostic utility in the evaluation of peripheral blood for the presence of neoplastic T-cell populations.
Kuchnio
M
M
Laboratory of Pathology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Sausville
E A
EA
Jaffe
E S
ES
Greiner
T
T
Foss
F M
FM
McClanahan
J
J
Fukushima
P
P
Stetler-Stevenson
M A
MA
D000368:Aged; D002999:Clone Cells; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000473:pathology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell