Lymphocyte surface markers in acute lymphoblastic leukemia of adults.

Leukemic cells from eight adult patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) were examined for the T-lymphocyte (T-cell) marker of sheep erythrocyte (E) receptors and for B-lymphocyte (B-cell) markers of surface immunoglobulins (SIg), complement receptors and FC receptors. Six of these patients' leukemic cells were devoid of both T- and B-cell markers, and therefore were "null" cells. The leukemic lymphoblasts of a 79-year-old patient had all B-cell markers, including monoclonal IgG K and receptors for complement and Fc. In cells from another patient (21 years old), only complement receptors were found. A review of the literature revealed that, similar to childhood ALL, adult cases of ALL were mostly of "null" cell type. All of the T-cell type was found in approximately 20% of patients. ALL of the B-cell type occurred only rarely. The latter cell type appeared to occur mainly in the middle-aged and the elderly.