Persistence of bone marrow lymphocytosis after induction treatment in common acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Marker analysis and significance.

In a series of 22 adult acute lymphoblastic leukemias expressing the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen (cALLA +), eight had marrow lymphocytosis greater than 30% (43 +/- 12%) with disappearance of marrow lymphoblasts and correction of bone marrow insufficiency at the end of the induction treatment. Four of these patients were studied for the cALL antigen at this time and had persistence of this immunological marker (62 +/- 15% of the mononuclear bone marrow cells). The evolution of these patients suggests that these patients were not in complete remission and emphasizes the usefulness of cALLA determination in cases with borderline excess of marrow lymphocytes.