CD52 expression in T-cell large granular lymphocyte leukemia – Implications for treatment with alemtuzumab

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Abstract
Few reports on the successful treatment of T-cell large granular lymphocyte (LGL)ud leukemia with the humanized anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody alemtuzumab areud emerging in the literature. The expression of CD52 by LGLs has not beenud previously investigated. Using semi-quantitative 2- and 3-color flow cytometry,ud we documented the expression of CD52 in 100% of abnormal cells in T-cell LGLud leukemia (n = 11) and natural killer (NK) cell LGL leukemia (n = 2), and showedud no significant difference in CD52 expression between T-cell prolymphocyticud leukemia (PLL) and T-cell LGL leukemia. Higher CD52 expression has been noted in ud responders to alemtuzumab in T-cell PLL and in chronic lymphocytic leukemiaud (CLL), a B-cell disorder. The strong and consistent expression of CD52 shown hereud highlights the potential role of alemtuzumab in the treatment of refractoryud T-cell LGL leukemia and possibly aggressive NK cell leukemia