IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A CUTE-LEUKEMIA - A STUDY OF 31 BONE-MARROW BIOPSIES

An immunohistochemical study by avidin-bio tin-peroxidase was performe d on paraffin-embedded and decalcified bone marrow biopsies in 31 acut e leukemias (19 myeloid and 12 lymphoblastic). The Ulex Europaeus lect in and 14 antibodies (anti-CD45, -CD34, -myeloperoxidase, -lysozyme, - CD15, -CD68, -carrinoembryonic antigen, -factor VIII-related antigen, BNH9, anti-CD45RO, -CD3, -CD20, DBB42 and DBA44) were tested. All acut e myeloid leukemias from MO to M5 type were stained by either the anti -myeloperoxidase or anti-lyzozyme antibodies. CD68, CD15 and the carci noembryonic antigen were respectively expressed in 80%, 40% and 20% of myeloid leukemias from MI to M5 type. The Ulex Europaeus lectin and t he anti-factor VIII-related antigen antibody stained only the M7 leuke mia and the anti-CD3 antibody stained only the T acute lymphoblastic l eukemia. DBB42 was expressed by 63% of B-lineage lymphoblastic leukemi as and CD20 by 36%. No leukemia was stained by DBA44. Immunohistochemi stry on bone marrow biopsy can assess the lineage of most acute leukem ias with the use of a panel of antibodies such as the anti-myeloperoxi dase, -lysozyme, -CD68, -CD20, DBB42, -CD3, BNH9, anti-factor VIII-rel ated antigen antibodies and the Ulex Europaeus lectin.