T and B origin of human lymphocytic leukaemia

A new immunological classification of leukaemia diseases in man was assessed by using electrophoretic mobility as a cell-marker. It was found that all acute lymphocytic leukaemia analysed in childhood were T-cell leukaemia, and the majority of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in adults were also T-cell leukaemia. The remainder, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in adults, were B-cell leukaemia. The above statements are only partially compatible with the classification given by the most commonly used T- and B-cell markers such as rosette formation or cell-surface immunoglobulins.