Immunological classification of acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) in childhood. Origin and clinical significance of phenotypic variability
Thöne, I.; Kabisch, H.; Müller, J.; Winkler, K.; Landbeck, G.
Monatsschrift Kinderheilkunde Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Kinderheilkunde 130(12): 883-890
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-9298 PMID: 6759928 Document Number: 187002
Leucemic cells in 54 children with ALL have been typed immunologically by conventional antisera, monoclonal antibodies and receptor tests as c-ALL (62.5%), T-ALL/NHL (18.5%), B-ALL (1.9%) and AUL (16.6%), respectively. The different subtypes showed a noteworthy heterogeneity in receptor patterns which may reflect an arrest in discrete differentiation stages within the maturation pathway of a lymphoid cell population. The characteristic set of clinical symptoms of T-cell neoplasias could once again be confirmed. Of interest is a clear trend for a less favourable outcome in AUL as compared to c-ALL and in NHL versus ALL as a whole, whereas no difference could be found between T-ALL and non T-ALL during therapy. Immunological typing of ALL is of clinical importance as entities with different biological behaviour and, correspondingly, different therapeutical requirements can be distinguished.