[Immunophenotype of acute leukemia and its clinical significance]

To examine the immunophenotype of adult acute leukemia and analyze its clinical significance.

Immunophenotypes were examined by direct immunofluorescence method and flowcytometry in 69 de novo AL.

1. The incidence of myeloid antigen expression in 29 adult ALL was 30%. Among them, CD13 was 10.3% and CD33 was 20.7%, no difference was found in expression of myeloid antigens between B-ALL and T-ALL (P > 0.05). Myeloid antigens were expressed much more higher in CD34 positive ALL than in CD34 negative ALL (77.8% vs 13.3%, P = 0.036). CR rate in myeloid antigen positive ALL was lower than in myeloid antigen negative ALL (33.3% vs 80%, P = 0.0203). 2. The incidence of lymphoid antigen expression in 40 adult AML was 30%. Among them, CD7 was 15%, CD19 12.5% and CD2 2.5%. CD7 was mainly expressed in M1 and M2 subtypes. Lymphoid antigens were expressed higher in CD34 positive AML than in CD34 negative AML (61.1% vs 4.5%, P = 0.000125). Though CR rate was lower in lymphoid antigen positive AML than in lymphoid antigen negative AML, no significant difference between them was noted (50% vs 71.4%, P = 0.126).

Aberrant antigen expression in adult acute leukemia is about 30%. Antigen aberrant is much higher in CD34 positive AL than in CD34 negative AL. The CR rate of antigen aberrant AL is lower than that of usual AL.