title: The presence of CD56/CD16 in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia correlates with the expression of cytotoxic molecules and is associated with worse response to treatment.
abstract: Some cases of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) express markers found in natural-killer (NK) cells, such as CD56 and CD16. Out of 84 T-cell ALL cases diagnosed at our Institution, CD56 and/or CD16 was detected in 24 (28.5%), which we designated T/NK-ALL group. Clinical features, laboratory characteristics, survival and expression of cytotoxic molecules were compared in T/NK-ALL and T-ALL patients. Significant differences were observed regarding age (24.9 vs. 16.4 years in T/NK-ALL and T-ALL, respectively, P = 0.006) and platelet counts (177 x 10(9)/l vs. 75 x 10(9)/l in T/NK-ALL and T-ALL, respectively, P = 0.03). Immunophenotypic analysis demonstrated that CD34, CD45RA and CD33 were more expressed in T/NK-ALL patients, whereas CD8 and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase were more expressed in T-ALL patients (P < 0.05). The mean overall survival (863 vs. 1869 d, P = 0.02) and disease-free survival (855 vs. 2095 d, P = 0.002) were shorter in patients expressing CD56/CD16. However, multivariate analysis identified CD56/CD16 as an independent prognostic factor only for DFS. Cytotoxic molecules were highly expressed in T/NK-ALL compared to T-ALL. Perforin, granzyme B and TIA-1 were detected in 12/17, 4/17 and 7/24 T/NK-ALL patients and in 1/20, 0/20 and 1/20 T-ALL respectively (P < 0.001, P = 0.036 and P = 0.054). Therefore, the presence of CD56/CD16 was associated with distinct clinical features and expression of cytotoxic molecules in the blasts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Haematology Division, and Centre for Cell Based Therapy, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro F F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Dalmazzo
authors.forename: Rafael H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Jácomo
authors.forename: André F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Marinato
authors.forename: Lorena L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Figueiredo-Pontes
authors.forename: Renato L G
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Aglair B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Eduardo M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Rego
authors.forename: Roberto P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Falcão
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000032:analysis; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D053804:Granzymes / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D054353:Perforin / Q000032:analysis; D010976:Platelet Count; D039102:Poly(A)-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D054218:Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000032:analysis*; D063268:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3; D015996:Survival Rate; D000074019:T-Cell Intracellular Antigen-1; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D015415:Biomarkers; D017252:CD3 Complex; C571163:CD33 protein, human; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D039102:Poly(A)-Binding Proteins; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D063268:Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3; D000074019:T-Cell Intracellular Antigen-1; C071558:TIA1 protein, human; D054353:Perforin; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D053804:Granzymes