Acute leukemias with expression of CD56

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Immunophenotyping
• Leukemia Classification

Background:

• Acute leukemia classification increasingly relies on genetic drivers.
• CD56, a neural cell adhesion molecule isoform, is expressed on NK cells but aberrantly found in various acute leukemias.
• Aberrant CD56 expression can complicate diagnosis and impact clinical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the diagnostic and clinical significance of CD56 expression in acute leukemias.
• To examine the role of CD56 immunophenotyping within current classification frameworks.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of current classification systems.
• Analysis of relevant scientific literature on CD56 immunophenotyping in acute leukemias.

Main Results:

• CD56 is expressed in diverse acute leukemias including AML, NK lymphoblastic leukemia, acute undifferentiated leukemia, and BPDCN.
• In AML, CD56 correlates with extramedullary disease, treatment resistance, and poorer survival.
• CD56 is a key but nonspecific marker in NK lymphoblastic leukemia and BPDCN, requiring integrated diagnostic approaches with other markers.

Conclusions:

• CD56-positive acute leukemias are diagnostically complex and biologically varied.
• Flow cytometry detection of CD56 aids differential diagnosis, risk stratification, and minimal residual disease assessment.
• Precise identification of CD56-positive neoplasms is crucial for risk-adapted therapy and optimized patient outcomes.