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Flow cytometric analysis of cell‐surface and intracellular antigens in the diagnosis of acute leukemia
Author(s) -
ParedesAguilera Rogelio,
RomeroGuzman Lina,
LopezSantiago Norma,
BurbanoCeron Lenny,
CamachoDel Monte Ofelia,
NietoMartinez Sandra
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.1155
Subject(s) - immunophenotyping , leukemia , myeloid leukemia , acute leukemia , medicine , myeloid , antigen , immunology , cluster of differentiation , flow cytometry , hematopathology , pathology , biology , cell , cytogenetics , genetics , gene , chromosome
Abstract To evaluate the usefulness of flow cytometric detection of intracellular antigens (Ags) in establishing proper lineage affiliation and its contribution to the diagnosis of acute leukemia, we studied 100 consecutive patients in whom acute leukemia was diagnosed between January 1997 and July 1998. Immunological classification was assessed using a three‐line panel of monoclonal antibodies for phenotypic characterization of leukemic blast cells as proposed at the First Latin American Consensus Conference for Flow Cytometric Immunophenotyping of Leukemia. We found 74 cases of B‐cell lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), seven cases of T‐cell ALL, and 19 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In this study cytoplasmic (cy) CD79a, cyCD22, cyCD3, and cyMPO were highly sensitive, specific B, T, and myeloid markers that were expressed in virtually all cases of B and T cell ALL and in all subtypes of AML. Applied in combination with immunophenotyping this knowledge led to improvement in diagnostic precision and refinement of immunological classification, ensuring the selection of the most appropriate therapy for the patients studied. In conclusion, intracellular Ags detection was of utmost importance in establishing correct lineage affiliation in cases lacking expression of B, T, or myeloid surface Ags or disclosing equivocal or ambiguous immunophenotypic features and in identifying biphenotypic acute leukemia. In combination with FAB morphology and immunophenotyping, we were able to reliably classify all patients with acute leukemia in this study. Am. J. Hematol. 68:69–74, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.