Prognostic impact of CD200 and CD56 expression in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study is to determine the prognostic relevance of CD200/ CD56 expression in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients.

METHODS: The expression of CD200 and CD56 by blast cells was assessed by flow cytometry before the start of chemotherapy in 70 B-ALL patients.

RESULTS: Positive expression of CD200 was detected in forty-six patients (66%) and CD56 was detected in 7 patients (10%) out of 70 patients, respectively. Only three patients (4.3%) had co-expression for CD200+ and CD56+ . Splenomegaly and thrombocytopenia were frequently observed more in CD200+ patients. Increased frequency of CD34+ was associated with CD200+ and CD56+ patients. The CD200+ and CD56+ subgroups of B-ALL patients had inferior OS and disease free survival compared to CD 200- and CD 56- patients.

CONCLUSIONS: CD200+ and/or CD56+ positive expression in B-ALL patients at diagnosis is a poor prognostic biomarker. Identification of CD200+ and CD56+ expression at diagnosis is recommended for a better stratification of adult B-ALL patients.