title: Detecting CD56+/NB84+/CD45- immunophenotype in the bone marrow of patients with metastatic neuroblastoma using flow cytometry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to identify neuroblastoma cells infiltrating the bone marrow, a triple-color flow-cytometric assay was developed combining CD56 and CD45 with the intracellular anti-NB84 specific antibody.
  
  
  METHODS
  The bilateral aspirates obtained from 27 consecutive children over the age of one year with stage 4 neuroblastoma were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neuroblastoma cells were detected in the bone marrow of 17/27 (63%) and 19/27 (70%) cases using cytomorphology and triple-color flow-cytometry, respectively. Using cytometry, the percentage of CD56+/NB84+/CD45-cells infiltrating the bone marrow ranged from 0.02% to 65%. Five out of eight patients without bone marrow involvement according to cytometry are in continuous complete remission, while only 3 out of 19 patients whose bone marrow gave positive results are still alive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By combining CD45 and CD56 with the specific antibody, NB84, directed against neuroblastoma cells, we developed a rapid and reliable cytometric assay that can be associated with conventional cytomorphological bone marrow evaluation to detect infiltrating neuroblastoma cells, especially in cases of dubious positivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Division of Pediatrics, "C" Istituto Nazionale per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Milan, Italy. fabio.bozzi@istitutotumori.mi.it
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bozzi
authors.forename: Felicita
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gambirasio
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luksch
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Collini
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brando
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fossati-Bellani
mesh_terms: D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D019046:Bone Marrow Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens