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HLA-Dr negative acute non-lymphocytic leukemia
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425, USA.
Annals of Clinical and Laboratory Science
|July 1, 1998
Summary
Absent or diminished HLA-Dr antigen on leukemic cells is not specific to acute promyelocytic leukemia (FAB-M3). This finding is present across various acute myeloid/monocytic leukemia subtypes, including FAB-M2.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Oncology
Background:
- Human Leukocyte Antigen-Dr (HLA-Dr) expression is typically diminished on normal and leukemic promyelocytes.
- This finding was previously considered a hallmark of acute promyelocytic leukemia (FAB-M3).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the specificity of absent or decreased HLA-Dr antigen expression for acute promyelocytic leukemia.
- To determine the prevalence of this immunophenotypic finding in other subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to analyze leukemic blasts.
- The study included 36 cases of acute non-lymphocytic leukemia, with a focus on FAB-M3 and other FAB subtypes.
Main Results:
- All 15 cases of acute promyelocytic leukemia (FAB-M3) exhibited absent or markedly decreased cell surface HLA-Dr antigen.
- However, 21 other cases, including various FAB subtypes (notably FAB-M2), also showed this finding.
Conclusions:
- Absent or decreased HLA-Dr antigen expression on leukemic blasts lacks diagnostic specificity for acute promyelocytic leukemia.
- This immunophenotypic characteristic can be observed in all subtypes of acute myeloid/monocytic leukemia.