[Expression of CD123 in lymphocytic leukemia and its significance for monitoring minimal residual diseases.].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of CD123 and its significance in lymphocytic leukemia.


METHODS
CD123 expression in 139 lymphocytic leukemia patients and in lymphocytes from 10 normal bone marrows (BM) was analyzed by multi-parameter flow cytometry. Cytogenetic and minimal residual disease (MRD) analysis were performed in acute B-lymphocytic leukemia (B-ALL) patients.


RESULTS
CD123 expression was absent in B lymphoid lineage stem-progenitor cells, mature B and T lymphocytes from 10 normal BM. Among 139 lymphocytic leukemia patients, CD123 was negative in 5 T-ALL and 23 B-CLL patients. However, among 111 B-ALL patients, CD123 was expressed in 106 (12 pro B-ALL, 57 common B-ALL and 37 Pre B-ALL) (95.49%) but not in 5 mature B-ALL patients. There was a positive correlation between CD123 and p-Akt expression, and CD123 expression was much higher in hyperdiploid than in non-hyperdiploid B-ALL patients. A statistically significant difference in relapse rate within 12 months (MRD positive group: 63.04% vs MRD negative group 21.56%)and in disease free survival (DFS) time was found beween patients with MRD\[(36.06 +/- 2.62)%\] or not \[(48.23 +/- 1.82)%\] (P < 0.01). Moreover, stable CD123 expression could be observed in B-ALL patients in relapse.


CONCLUSIONS
CD123 was predominantly expressed in B-ALL patients and remained in patients in relapsec, indicating that it may be an useful MRD marker in B-ALL patients.
Central laboratory, Department of Hematology of Affiliated Taizhou Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Linhai 317000, China.
Yue-Fei
YF
Wang
Bao-Guo
BG
Chen
Wen-da
WD
Luo
Rui
R
Zheng
Bo-Li
BL
Li
D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D015452:Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma; D054218:Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma