Expression and Long-Term Prognostic Value of CD34 in Childhood and Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract

Clinical and laboratory characteristics at diagnosis, and long-term (up to 7 years) evolution, were analysed in 156 patients (66 adults and 90 children) with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), according to the expression of CD34. Eighty-three patients had CD34+ and 73 patients CD34- blasts at diagnosis. In adults, CD34+ ALL was more often of B-lineage (p =. 003). White blood cell counts were higher both in children with CD34- B-lineage ALL (p =. 02) and adults with CD34- T-lineage ALL (p =. 05). Adult patients with CD34- T-lineage ALL were older (p =. 04) and had more frequent splenic or liver enlargement (p =. 02). Children with CD34+ ALL had a significantly (p =. 04) longer event-free follow-up than CD34- children. Survival curves showed that after induction of remission, relapses were less frequent during the first 2 years for patients with CD34+ B-lineage ALL. After 2 years, however, event-free survival curves of CD34+ and CD34- patients merged. Thus it seems that CD34+ has no significant benefit for ALL patients.

Key Words:

• acute lymphoblastic leukemia
• CD34
• outcome