[Expression of two subtype molecules of CD133 in childhood with B linage acute lymphoblastic leukemia and its clinical significance].

This study was to explore the expression of two subtype molecules of CD133 and its relationship with clinical prognostic factors in childhood with B linage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) at initial diagnosis and the 33rd day of induction chemotherapy. Expression of CD133-1 and CD133-2 in 48 cases of B-ALL and 25 cases at initial diagnosis and the 33rd day of treatment was detected by flow cytometry. Minimal residual disease (MRD) of B-ALL at 33rd day was evaluated by flow cytometry. The results indicated that the expression of CD133-1 was positive in 18 cases (37.5%), and expression of CD133-2 in 30 cases (62.5%) was positive from 48 cases with newly diagnosed ALL (P < 0.05). At 33rd day of treatment, expression of CD133-1 in 2 cases (8.0%) from 25 cases was positive, and expression of CD133-2 in 23 cases (92.0%) was positive (P < 0.05). After induction chemotherapy in B-ALL, the expression of CD133-1 decreased significantly, but still higher than that in the normal control group. Compared to expression of CD133-1, expression of CD133-2 decreased slowly. It is concluded that there is no relations among expression of CD133 and sex, age, white blood cell count, percentage of bone marrow blast cells, FAB subtype, cytogenetics, leukemia fusion gene, risk stratification and complete remission rate in childhood B-ALL. The positive expression rates and levels of CD133-2 are higher than those of CD133-1 in B-ALL. There is no statistical correlation between expression of CD133 and CD34 in B-ALL. The expression of CD133-2 is significantly related to the level of MRD.