Immunophenotyping of acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Objective To evaluate the immunophenotyping specificity of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.Methods A total of 58 patients with morphologically diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia were immunophenotyped by flow cytometry using a panel of monoclonal antibodies specific for CD2,CD3,CD4,CD5,CD7,CD8,CD10,CD13,CD19,CD20,CD22,CD33,CD34,CD38,CD45,CD56,CD117,HLA-DR,sIgM,cyIg,cyCD79a,MPO and TdT molecules.Results The samples were initially categorized into T-ALL(n=8,13.79%),B-ALL(n=49,84.48%) and mixed lineage(n=1,1.72%) based on the expression patterns of CD3,CD19,CD33 and MPO molecules.B-ALL patients were further classified into four subtypes,including Pro-B(n=5,8.62%),common B(n=34,58.62%),Pre-B(n=9,15.52%) and mature B cells(n=1,1.72%) on the basis of expressions of CD10,CD20,cyIg and sIgM.Abnormal cells showed cross-lineage antigen expression,asynchronous antigen expression,antigen overexpression and antigen lack expression.The immunophenotypes presented no significant difference between children and adults.Conclusion The abnormal bone marrow cells in acute lymphoblastic leukemia show obvious lineal features,blast markers and cross-lineage expressions.The immunophenotyping based on abnormal expressions is applicable for the detection of minimal residual disease.