Application of flow cytometry for detection of the minimal residual disease in acute promyelocytic leukemia

Objective To study the clinical significance of monitoring minimal residual disease(MRD)in acute promyelocytic leukemia(APL,M3)by flow cytometry.Methods Three-color combinations of monoclonal antibodies(CD15,CD13,CD11b,CD33,CD34,CD45)were used to detect 50bone marrow specimens of patients with APL diagnosed by FAB and immunophenotype before therapy and to follow up 20bone marrow specimens after initial induction therapy.Meanwhile,ten bone marrow specimens from normal controls were detected.Results Ninety-Six percents of M3leukemia cells expressed CD15-,CD11b-,CD13+and CD33+before therapy at CD45/SSC gate;after initial induction therapy,the recurrence rate of MRD-positive group was 57.0%,significantly higher than that of the MRD-negative group,there were significant difference between the two groups.Conclusion Flow cytometry is a fast,simple and effective method to detect the minimal residual disease in cute promyelocytic leukemia.