title: CD34+ megakaryoblastic leukaemic cells are CD38-, but CD61+ and glycophorin A+: improved criteria for diagnosis of AML-M7?
abstract: The aim of this flow cytometry study in acute megakaryoblastic leukaemia (AML-M7) was to describe the membrane phenotype of CD34+ progenitor subsets and compare these with the phenotypes expressed by other AML FAB types. Following conventional histopathological diagnosis mononuclear cells from bone marrow and blood were examined in seven patients with AML-M7 and compared with results from 26 sequential patients with AML-M0 to AML-M6. The CD34+ subsets in AML-M7 patients differed from that of patients with AML-M0 to AML-M6 as the CD34+ CD61+ and the CD34+ Glycophorin A+ subsets were median 31% and 20%, respectively, compared to 4% and 2% in the AML-M0 to AML-M6 (P = 0.0005). Only 1% of the CD34+ progenitors were CD34+ CD38+ in AML-M7 compared to 72% in other AML subtypes (P < 0.000). These findings suggest that the CD34+ cell compartment in AML-M7 consists of early lineage-specific progenitors. In conclusion, flow cytometry analysis of CD34+ subsets may improve the diagnostic safety in AML-M7 and consequently the prognostic significance of immunophenotyping in acute leukaemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Helleberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nikolajsen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kjaersgaard
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ralfkiaer
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Johnsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis*; D001752:Blast Crisis; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006021:Glycophorins / Q000032:analysis; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D039661:Integrin beta3; D007947:Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D006021:Glycophorins; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D039661:Integrin beta3; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins