Phenotypic heterogeneity of B cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma.
Although some studies have examined the expression of aberrant markers such as CD2, CD7, CD10, CD13, CD33, and CD34 on B cells in chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), a uniform multiparametric analysis of the frequency of expression of these markers using stringent criteria is lacking. By using 3-color flow cytometry, we analyzed 117 cases (bone marrow, 71; blood, 31; lymph nodes, 15) for coexpression of aberrant markers with CD19. Marker expression was considered positive when present on at least 20% of CD19+ cells. Of 117 cases, 40 (34.2%) showed expression of 1 or more aberrant markers. Expression of 4 aberrant markers was seen in 1 case, 3 in 4 cases, 2 in 15 cases, and 1 in 20 cases. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and the log-rank test revealed that the group with aberrant markers showed significantly shortened overall survival compared with the group without aberrant markers (P < .001). There is considerable phenotypic heterogeneity in CLL/SLL, and expression of aberrant markers indicates aggressiveness.
Kampalath
Bal
B
Dept of Pathology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
Barcos
Maurice P
MP
Stewart
Carleton
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018941:Antigens, CD19 / Q000032:analysis; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D019011:Antigens, CD7 / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D018826:CD13 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018801:CD2 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015260:Neprilysin / Q000032:analysis; D063268:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3; D015996:Survival Rate
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D018941:Antigens, CD19; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D019011:Antigens, CD7; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D018801:CD2 Antigens; C571163:CD33 protein, human; D063268:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3; D018826:CD13 Antigens; D015260:Neprilysin