Markers of cellular differentiation in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous entity that can be subcategorized on the basis of morphologic aspects, immunologic markers, membrane antigens, and enzymatic content of the blast forms. Subgroups corresponding to T-cell, pre-T-cell, pre-B-cell, and non-T-, non-B-lymphocyte derivations can be defined by immunologic markers, and the biologic differences are supported by the differential expression of membrane antigens and of nuclear, lysosomal, cytoplasmic, and membrane enzymes. These studies ease the diagnosis and characterization of ALL and enhance understanding of this disease.