[Clinical and Experimental Analysis of Myeloid Antigen Positive Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia]

The purpose of this investigation was to study the myeloid antigen expression and its relationship with clinical and biological features in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). A panel of lineage-associated monoclonal antibodies and indirect immunofluorescence technique were used to analyse the immunophenotype in 85 previously untreated cases. The results showed that twenty-one point two percent of patients expressed myeloid antigens (My(+)), and CD13 and CD33 were frequently involved. The incidence of myeloid antigen expression had no statistical difference between T and B ALL or between ALL-L(1) and ALL-L(2) (P > 0.05). Myeloid antigens were expressed in three of seven T/B mixed ALL cases. There was no significant difference in clinical and biological features and chromosome abnormality between My(+) and My(-) cases (P > 0.25). There was no significant difference in complete remission rate and relapse rate between My(+) and My(-) cases (P > 0.05). The conclusion suggested that myeloid antigen expression was not associated with complete remission rate in childhood ALL. T/B mixed ALL more frequently showed expression of myeloid antigens and had an unfavorable prognosis.