Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 1, 190-197, Copyright © 1983 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other chronic lymphoid proliferations: surface marker phenotypes and clinical correlations
RO Dillman, JC Beauregard, JW Lea, MR Green, RE Sobol and I Royston
A diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was made in 81 patients
referred for peripheral blood lymphocyte typing (PBL). A retrospective
review was undertaken to see if correlations existed between surface marker
phenotype-determined subclasses and clinical features. Surface markers
utilized were surface immunoglobulin (sIg), sheep erythrocyte receptor (E),
65,000-dalton human T lymphocyte antigen (T65), Ia antigen, and for sIg+
cells, heavy and light chains. All patients were Ia+. Cells of 70% of
patients were sIg+ E- T65+ Ia+, and the clinical heterogeneity was that of
classical CLL. Eight of the nine patients with sIg+ E- T65- Ia+ cells had a
paraprotein. The sIg- E+ T65+ Ia+ phenotype represented classical T cell
CLL. Three of the five patients in the sEg- E- T65+ Ia+ group had
significant albuminuria, and two had nephrotic-range proteinuria. Use of
additional monoclonal antibodies to B cell surface antigens should further
subclassify CLL and other lymphoproliferative disorders. Interesting
clinical correlations with certain phenotypic subclasses do exist, and
further subclassification and long-term follow-up may yield correlations
between phenotypes and prognosis.
