ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA WITH PRE-B-CELL CHARACTERISTICS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 54  (1) , 269-273
Abstract
Blast cells from 6 of 50 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) displayed intracytoplasmic .mu. chains in the absence of detectable L chains and surface immunoglobulins. These cells also expressed la-like and common ALL antigens. Terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase was detectable in 2 of 5 cases tested. These blast cells are probably related to early B[bone marrow-derived]-cell precursors (pre-B cells). In 4 of 6 cases the disease had a tumoral presentation. The prognostic significance of this new subgroup, which accounts for 20% of patients with non-T [thymus-derived] non-B ALL, remains to be established.