We analyzed the expression pattern of adhesion molecules including beta(1)-
integrins (CD49c, CD49d, CD49e, CD49f), beta(2)-integrins (CD11a, CD11b, CD
11c), CD44, and CD54 in 141 children with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblas
tic leukemia (pre-B ALL) and in 21 children with B-cell ALL/non-Hodgkin's l
ymphoma (B-ALL/NHL). The frequencies of CD11a, CD49f, and CD44 expression w
ere significantly higher in CD34(+) pre-B ALL than in CD34(-) pre-B ALL. Al
though CD49d, CD49e, and CD44 were less frequently expressed in B-ALL/NHL t
han in pre-B ALL, the expression of CD11a and CD54 were more frequent in B-
ALL/NHL. In pre-B ALL, expression of CD11a positively correlated with that
of CD11b (P < .05) and CD54 (P < .01), and CD49c positively correlated with
CD49f (P < .01). Of the clinical parameters of patients with pre-B ALL, ex
pression of CD11a was associated with a low leukocyte count (P < .05). The
presence of CD54 on the cell surface was an independent factor indicating a
poor prognosis. The estimated 5-year event-free survival was 42.3% for CD5
4(+) (n = 31) compared with 70.3% for CD53(-) patients (n = 38) (P < .05).
These findings demonstrated that expression of adhesion molecules is depend
ent on the phenotype of B-lineage cells and that the expression of some of
these molecules has clinical Significance. Int J Hematol 2000; 72:69-73. (C
) 2000 The Japanese Society of Hematology.