Human granulocyte antigens detected on leukemia cells and a chronic myelogenous cell line.

Normal human granulocyte alloantigens were found on chronic myelogenous, acute myeloblastic leukemia cells, and a cell line of chronic myeloblastic origin (K562). Antigens were detected by human antisera positive for normal peripheral blood granulocytes but devoid of HLA activity. Very few acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells reacted positively, and none of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells seemed to bear granulocyte surface antigens. The recognition of these normal tissue isoantigens on myeloblastic leukemia cells is a necessary prerequisite for the identification of "leukemia-specific" of "leukemia-associated" antigens.