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Phenotypic heterogeneity of human T‐cell malignancies: Demonstration by monoclonal antibodies and cytochemical markers
Author(s) -
Knowles Daniel M.,
Halper James P.,
Machin Genevieve A.,
Byeff Peter,
Mertelsman Roland,
Chess Leonard
Publication year - 1982
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.2830120305
Subject(s) - phenotype , mycosis fungoides , monoclonal antibody , biology , t cell , lymphoma , leukemia , lymphoblastic lymphoma , monoclonal , antibody , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , pathology , medicine , genetics , gene , immune system
The present study sought to delineate the phenotypic heterogeneity of the human T‐cell malignancies. Twenty T‐cell neoplasms were investigated for reactivity with the OKT hybridoma monoclonal antibodies and expression of acid α‐naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE), β‐glucuronidase (BG), and acid phosphatase (AP) activity. Twelve cases (Mycosis fungoides, Sezary syndrome, cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia) were OKT3 + T4 + , ie, expressed the phenotype commonly associated with mature T‐helper cells. These cases were further divisible into ANAE + BG + (6 cases), ANAE ‐ BG + (5 cases), and ANAE ‐ BG ‐ (1 case) phenotypes. In contrast to the 12 OKT3 + T4 + cases, the remaining 8 cases showed considerable inter‐ and intratumor heterogeneity with respect to reactivity with the OKT antibodies. Six of these cases (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphoblastic lymphoma) expressed phenotypes consistent with various intrathymic stages of T‐cell differentiation. Five of the latter 6 cases were AP + BG + ANAE ‐ , analogous to the majority of normal cortical thymocytes; an OKT3 + T4 ‐ T8 + T10 + neoplasm was ANAE + , analogous to normal medullary thymocytes. Two cases expressed the previously undescribed OKT3 + T4 ‐ T8 ‐ T10 + phenotype. These studies demonstrate that the T‐cell malignancies are divisible into phenotypes which correspond to normal maturational stages of T‐cell differentiation and functionally distinct T‐cell subsets. Phenotypic analysis of the human T‐cell malignancies may provide a basis for understanding their biological heterogeneity and may aid in the identification of transitional stages of T‐cell differentiation and minor T‐cell subsets.