A new prognostic marker of acute lymphoblastic leukemia - antigen CD95(Fas/APO-1).

Expression of CD95(Fas/APO-1) antigen on bone marrow blasts was studied in 38 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Fas-antigen expression was a ssessed by means of monoclonal antibodies IPO-4 and ICO-160 in indirect imm unofluorescence reaction. While the median of 10-year survival of ail the p atients was 118.5 months, in the group of CD95-negative group it was 24 mon ths only. As for recurrence-free survival, the median was not reached in th e CD95+ group, but made up 19.5 months in the CD95- group. The differences were significant. The median of overall survival was not reached in CD95+ p atients, but in CD95- patients it was 25.2 months. It is concluded that CD9 5 expression on blast cell membrane seems a favourable prognostic factor in dicating both longer recurrencef-free and overall survival. CD95 antigen ca n serve as a new prognostic marker in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in child ren.