T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia with a suppressor phenotype

A diagnosis of prolymphocytic leukemia was made from the blood and bone marrow of a 50 year old man. The neoplastic cells were studied by use of light and electron microscopy. Neoplastic cells were focally positive for acid phosphatase and alpha naphthyl acetate esterase. In addition, neoplastic cells formed rosettes with sheep erythrocytes and reacted with Leu-1 and Leu-2a but not Leu-3a antisera. No terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) activity was noted in these cells. It is concluded that these neoplastic cells were phenotypically mature suppressor T lymphocytes. Furthermore, T and B cell prolymphocytic leukemias were compared according to clinico-pathological, cytochemical, ultrastructural, and immunological findings derived from our review of the current literature.