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Immunologic profile and outcome of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Morocco
Nadia Dakka1, Hicham Bellaoui, Mohammed Khattab
1Laboratoire de Biochimie-Immunologie, Université Mohammed V, Faculté des Sciences, Rabat, Morocco. nadiadakka@yahoo.fr
Insights
This study classified childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Morocco using immunophenotyping. B-ALL was more common than T-ALL, with differences in clinical features and survival rates observed between the two types.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Pediatric Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- Immunophenotyping precisely defines leukemia cell lineage and differentiation.
- Understanding immunologic subtypes of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is crucial for treatment and prognosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of immunologic types of ALL in Moroccan children.
- To compare clinical characteristics and outcomes between T-ALL and B-ALL.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used for immunophenotyping of 100 pediatric ALL samples.
- Analysis included age, sex, clinical features (splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, mediastinal masses), remission rates, relapse rates, and survival.
Main Results:
- B-ALL comprised 63% and T-ALL 37% of cases, with a male predominance (69%).
- Hepatomegaly and mediastinal masses were more frequent in T-ALL. Immature B-ALL showed higher rates of splenomegaly and hepatomegaly than mature B-ALL.
- Complete remission rates were 88% for B-ALL and 84% for T-ALL. Overall 5-year survival was 38%, with better survival for B-ALL.
Conclusions:
- Immunophenotyping is essential for classifying pediatric ALL in Morocco.
- Distinct clinical features and survival outcomes exist between B-ALL and T-ALL in this population.
- Further research may improve outcomes for T-ALL patients.
Abstract:
Immunophenotyping in leukemia offers a precise delineation of the hematopoietic lineage and differentiation stage of the malignant cell. In this study, we used flow cytometry to determine the frequency of the immunologic types of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Moroccan children. We analyzed 100 samples from ALL patients within an age ranging from 6 months to 16 years presented over a 4-year period (1996 to 2000). Immunophenotyping allowed classification into 2 major categories: T-ALL (37%) and B-ALL (63%), with a higher percentage of males (69%). Comparison of the clinical characteristics showed that the frequency of splenomegaly was similar in B-ALL and T-ALL patients (53% and 47%, respectively). Hepatomegaly and mediastinal masses were more often associated with T-ALL (62% and 71%, respectively). Splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and mediastinal masses were more frequent in immature than mature B-ALL, whereas the reverse was observed for T-ALL. Complete remission was obtained in 88% and 84% of B-ALL and T-ALL, respectively and relapse after 1 year occurred in 30% and 37% of cases, respectively. CD10 expressing B-ALL showed a slightly higher complete remission rate, whereas the reverse was observed for CD10 expressing T-ALL. The overall 5-year survival rate of ALL was 38%, whereas patients with B-ALL showed better survival than children with T-ALL.