TY - JOUR
T1 - Aberrant T-cell antigen expression in B lymphoblastic leukaemia
AU - Hussein, Shafinaz
AU - Gill, Kamraan Z.
AU - Sireci, Anthony N.
AU - Colovai, Adriana I.
AU - Small, Tania
AU - Emmons, Foxwell N.
AU - Murty, Vundavalli V.
AU - Bhagat, Govind
AU - Alobeid, Bachir
PY - 2011/11
Y1 - 2011/11
N2 - B lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) cells are characterized by the expression of various B-cell antigens. Expression of T/Natural Killer-cell antigens, however, has rarely been reported in B-ALL (TAg+ B-ALL), and the significance of this aberrant antigen expression is unclear. We thus analysed the frequency of TAg+ B-ALL at our institution and investigated its significance in the context of immunophenotypes, cytogenetic/molecular findings, and prognosis. We reviewed 134 consecutive cases of B-ALL and found 18 cases (13·4%) of TAg+ B-ALL. The most common aberrant T-cell antigens expressed were CD2, CD5, and CD7 at equivalent rates (each in six cases), CD4 (two cases), and CD56 (three cases). Adverse cytogenetic abnormalities were seen in a significantly larger proportion of the TAg+ cases (72·2%) than the TAg- cases (32·2%; P=0·003). Multivariate Cox-regression analysis showed that the risk of relapse over time was higher in the TAg+ cases, independent of high risk status (based on age and white blood cell count) and the presence of adverse cytogenetic abnormalities (hazard ratio=2·256, P=0·065). These findings suggest that T-cell antigen expression in B-ALL may be an independent predictor of poor prognosis, and a useful marker to identify patients at increased risk for relapse and for harbouring adverse cytogenetic abnormalities.
AB - B lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) cells are characterized by the expression of various B-cell antigens. Expression of T/Natural Killer-cell antigens, however, has rarely been reported in B-ALL (TAg+ B-ALL), and the significance of this aberrant antigen expression is unclear. We thus analysed the frequency of TAg+ B-ALL at our institution and investigated its significance in the context of immunophenotypes, cytogenetic/molecular findings, and prognosis. We reviewed 134 consecutive cases of B-ALL and found 18 cases (13·4%) of TAg+ B-ALL. The most common aberrant T-cell antigens expressed were CD2, CD5, and CD7 at equivalent rates (each in six cases), CD4 (two cases), and CD56 (three cases). Adverse cytogenetic abnormalities were seen in a significantly larger proportion of the TAg+ cases (72·2%) than the TAg- cases (32·2%; P=0·003). Multivariate Cox-regression analysis showed that the risk of relapse over time was higher in the TAg+ cases, independent of high risk status (based on age and white blood cell count) and the presence of adverse cytogenetic abnormalities (hazard ratio=2·256, P=0·065). These findings suggest that T-cell antigen expression in B-ALL may be an independent predictor of poor prognosis, and a useful marker to identify patients at increased risk for relapse and for harbouring adverse cytogenetic abnormalities.
KW - Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
KW - B lymphoblastic leukaemia
KW - NK cell antigen
KW - T-cell antigen
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U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2011.08870.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2011.08870.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 21923643
AN - SCOPUS:80054978337
SN - 0007-1048
VL - 155
SP - 449
EP - 456
JO - British Journal of Haematology
JF - British Journal of Haematology
IS - 4
ER -