Flow cytometric study of potential target antigens (CD19, CD20, CD22, CD33) for antibody-based immunotherapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: analysis of 552 cases

Leuk Lymphoma. 2011 Jun;52(6):1098-107. doi: 10.3109/10428194.2011.559668. Epub 2011 Feb 24.

Abstract

Monoclonal antibody (MoAb)-based therapies have opened innovative treatment avenues that have impacted on the management of patients with both neoplastic and non-neoplastic hematological diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate in a large series of cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) the expression of specific antigens, CD19, CD20, CD22, and CD33, for which MoAbs are available for clinical use. For each antigen, evaluation was based on the percentage of positive leukemic cells and the degree of antigen expression by mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) and antibody binding capacity (ABC) that were correlated with age, immunophenotype, and presence/absence of particular molecular markers. We can document that some of the analyzed antigens showed a degree of expression related to the B-cell maturation profile, and that the antigen expression intensity appeared to vary according to the presence of specific genetic markers. These findings suggest that the possible clinical use of a given MoAb in patients with ALL should take into account both the maturation profile of the leukemic cells and the presence of a given molecular transcript. Only clinical studies will conclusively demonstrate whether the differences in antigenic expression truly correlate with the different therapeutic efficacies of the various clinical grade MoAbs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Antigens, CD / metabolism
  • Antigens, CD19 / immunology
  • Antigens, CD19 / metabolism
  • Antigens, CD20 / immunology
  • Antigens, CD20 / metabolism
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / immunology
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / metabolism
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Flow Cytometry / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Middle Aged
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / genetics
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism*
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / metabolism
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / pathology
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2 / immunology
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2 / metabolism
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, CD19
  • Antigens, CD20
  • Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic
  • CD33 protein, human
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 3