58
ICCS 2011
P22
SEQUENTIAL ANALYSIS OF CD38 EXPRESSION
BY FLOW CYTOMETRY IN CHRONIC
LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA
Virginia Lanier, Guang Fan, Katalin Kelemen
OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
Background
: Expression of CD38 by fow cytometry
(FC) is a useful prognostic marker in chronic
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Our aims are to
evaluate CD38 expression in sequential samples
of CLL patients and to correlate CD38 expression
with cytogenetic fndings.
Methods
: The Pathology
Archives of OHSU were searched for CLL patients
who underwent sequential FC analyses of CD38.
The CBC, FC results including CD38 and Zap-70
expression, and cytogenetic fndings were reviewed.
The cutoff for positive CD38 result is 30% or more
CLL cells.
Results
: 19 CLL patients had sequential
FC analyses of CD38 (median number of tests/
patient 3, range 2-9). 45 blood and 41 bone marrow
FC analyses were reviewed. Excellent correlation
was found between CD38 results of concurrently
involved peripheral blood and bone marrow samples.
8 patients were CD38- (42%), 8 patients were
CD38+ (42%), and 3 patients changed over time
from negative to positive (16%). Change of positive
result into negative did not occur. No difference was
observed between the CD38- and CD38+ groups
regarding sex, age, lymphocyte count, or expression
of Zap-70. CD38 expression did not correlate with
complex aberrant karyotype, deletion of 13q34,
11q, 17p, or trisomy 12 by FISH.
Conclusions
:
Expression of CD38 by FC may convert from negative
to positive over time in CLL, therefore, sequential
FC testing of CD38 is indicated. CD38 expression
might not be linked to the pathways represented by
current cytogenetic markers. To predict prognosis, a
combination of cytogenetic, FISH and fow cytometric
studies is necessary.
POSTER ABSTRACTS