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Updated: Jul 17, 2025
Flow Cytometry to Estimate Leukemia Stem Cells in Primary Acute Myeloid Leukemia and in Patient-derived-xenografts, at Diagnosis and Follow Up
Published on: March 26, 2018
Can CD34+CD38- lymphoblasts, as likely leukemia stem cells, be a prognostic factor in B-cell precursor acute
Weronika Stolpa1, Agnieszka Mizia-Malarz1,2, Magdalena Zapała3
1Department of Oncology, Hematology, and Chemotherapy, Upper Silesia Children's Care Health Centre, Katowice, Poland.
Background:
CD34+CD38- lymphoblasts as likely leukemia stem cells (LSCs) may be responsible for a worse response to treatment and may be a risk factor for recurrence in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL).
Objective:
The study objective was to assess the prognostic role of CD34+CD38- lymphoblasts in bone marrow on the day of BCP-ALL diagnosis.
Methods:
115 patients with BCP-ALL, the median age of 4.5 years (range 1.5-17.9 years), gender: female 63 (54.8%) with BCP-ALL were enrolled; Group I (n = 90)-patients with CD34+CD38+ antigens and Group II (n = 20)-patients with CD34+CD38- antigens on the lymphoblast surface.
Results:
A worse response on Days 8, 15, and 33 of therapy and at the end of treatment in Group II (CD34+CD38-) was more often observed but these differences were not statistically significant. A significantly higher incidence of BCP-ALL recurrence was in Group II.
Conclusions:
1.In BCP-ALL in children, the presence of CD34+CD38- lymphoblasts at the diagnosis does not affect the first remission.2.In BCP-ALL in children, the presence of CD34+CD38- lymphoblasts at the diagnosis may be considered an unfavorable prognostic factor for disease recurrence.3.It is necessary to further search for prognostic factors in BCP-ALL in children.
