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Stability of leukemia‐associated aberrant immunophenotypes in patients with acute myeloid leukemia between diagnosis and relapse: Comparison with cytomorphologic, cytogenetic, and molecular genetic findings
Author(s) -
Voskova Daniela,
Schoch Claudia,
Schnittger Susanne,
Hiddemann Wolfgang,
Haferlach Torsten,
Kern Wolfgang
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
cytometry part b: clinical cytometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1552-4957
pISSN - 1552-4949
DOI - 10.1002/cyto.b.20025
Subject(s) - myeloid leukemia , cytogenetics , immunophenotyping , minimal residual disease , leukemia , flow cytometry , myeloid , bone marrow , pathology , medicine , disease , oncology , immunology , cancer research , biology , gene , genetics , chromosome
Background Multiparameter flow cytometry is increasingly used to monitor minimal residual disease in patients with acute myeloid leukemia to identify leukemic cells by leukemia‐associated aberrant immunophenotypes (LAIPs). Changes in LAIPs during the course of the disease may be a limitation for this approach. Methods We analyzed 49 patients at diagnosis and relapse by flow cytometry, cytomorphology, cytogenetics, and molecular genetics. Results In 37 patients (76%), at least one LAIP detectable at diagnosis was present at relapse; in 12 patients (24%), none of the original LAIPs were present in at least 1% of bone marrow cells. Three groups were identified: no change in LAIPs, partial changes in LAIPs, and complete change in LAIPs. There were significant differences across these groups with regard to changes in cytomorphology (11%, 40%, and 58% of all cases, respectively; P = 0.007), cytogenetics (15%, 20%, and 25%; not significant), and molecular genetics (18%, 0, and 86%; P = 0.002). Conclusions These data indicate that, in a subset of patients with acute myeloid leukemia, the disease is biologically different at relapse; therefore, monitoring of minimal residual disease is difficult to accomplish. In most patients with acute myeloid leukemia, multiparameter flow cytometry may be used to monitor minimal residual disease. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.