title: The immunophenotype of adult T acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Morocco.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is paucity of detailed studies of adult T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) in developing countries reflecting the condition of these patients including clinical and biological features.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to analyze the immunophenotypic characteristics of 40 Moroccan patients with T-ALL and its association with biological and clinical features.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2006 and 2009, 130 adult patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were immunophenotyped by 3-color flow cytometry using a panel of monoclonal antibodies. Cases presenting features of a T-lineage phenotype were subjected to detailed analysis including immunophenotypic, clinical and biological parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Proportion of T-ALL among ALL Moroccan patients was 31.0%. Median age of patients was 28 years. Twenty-nine patients were females and 11 were males. 45.0% of patients (18/40) had features of immature T-ALL stages (pro-T and pre-T ALL), 30.0% (12/40) of CD1a+ cortical T-ALL stage and 25.0% (10/40) had a characteristic phenotype of medullary T-ALL. The frequencies of progenitor cell markers CD10, CD34 and TdT expression were 14.0; 57.5% and 50.0% respectively. The aberrant expression of B lineage associated antigen CD79a were positive in 20.5% of the cases and the aberrant expression of myeloid antigens CD13 and/or CD33 was found in 22 (55.0%) cases. No significant association was encountered between TdT, CD34 or myeloid antigens positivity and high risk features at presentation as age, sex, and white blood cells. However, myeloid antigens (CD13 and/or CD33) was significantly associated with T-cell maturation stages (p = 0.009).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report from North Africa of immunophenotypic study on adult T-ALL. Our findings indicate that the proportion of T-ALL among ALL in Morocco is similar to that reported in others Mediterranean countries like France and Italy and that myeloid-associated antigens expression is frequently associated with immature immunophenotype.
authors: Laboratory of Flow Cytometry, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat 769, Morocco.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Lahjouji
authors: Laboratory of Flow Cytometry, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat 769, Morocco.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Bachir
authors: Laboratory of Flow Cytometry, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat 769, Morocco.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Bennani
authors: Service of Hematology and Pediatric Oncology, Hospital 20 Août, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Quessar
authors: Mohamed V-Agdal University, Faculty of Sciences, UFR Biochemistry and Immunology, Rabat 769, Morocco.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Amzazi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D004253:DNA Nucleotidylexotransferase