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VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 1 | FIRST QUARTER ISSUE | 2008

Expression of CD66c and CD25 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia as a predictor of the presence of BCR/ABL rearrangement

Tarek M. Owaidah,a Faisal I. Rawas,a Mazen F. Al khayatt,a Nasser B. Elkumb

Departments of aPathology and Laboratory Medicine and bBiostatistics, Epidemiology and Scientific Computing, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

How to cite this article:

Owaidah TM, Rawas FI, Al khayatt MF, Elkum NB. Expression of CD66c and CD25 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia as a predictor of the presence of BCR/ABL rearrangement. Hematol Oncol Stem Cell Ther 2008; 1(1): 34-37.

 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Expression of myeloid or T cell lymphoid in precursor B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-B cell ALL), which is referred to as aberrant expression, is quite a common phenomenon. CD66c is a myeloid marker which has aberrant expression in pre-B cell ALL, with strong correlation with non-random genetic changes (BCR/ABL rearrangement). Another leukemia associated marker (CD25) is frequently expressed in pre-B cell ALL. The frequency of CD25–expressing lymphoblasts has been found to be significantly higher in BCR/ABL-positive vs. BCR/ABL-negative patients.


METHODS: In a cohort of 103 patients diagnosed with pre-B cell ALL or biphenotypic leukemia and studied for expression of CD66c and CD25 at presentation, we evaluated the frequency of expression of either or both in BCR/ABL positive cases.


RESULTS: Surface CD66c was expressed by 70 cases (68%) and CD25 was expressed by 33 cases (32%) while both were expressed together on 29 cases (28%). BCR/ABL was positive in 18/103 patients. All BCR/ABL positive cases were positive for surface CD66c and CD25.


CONCLUSION: Positivity for both leukemia-associated antigens CD66c and CD25 in combination can predict the presence of BCR/ABL rearrangement in pre-B cell ALL. While this finding does not replace the detection of BCR/ABL abnormality by cytogenetic or molecular techniques, it does provide an early and handy tool for prediction and management of high-risk cases of pre-B cell ALL, especially in centers with limited laboratory facilities.