Precursor B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients with aberrant natural killer cell and T cell - lineage antigen expression: experience from a tertiary cancer care center

Abstract Introduction Flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) plays a major role in diagnosing hematologic malignancies. In patients diagnosed with precursor B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), expression of certain non-lineage/cross lineage antigens is of prognostic and cytogenetic relevance. There is a paucity of studies that have comprehensively analyzed the clinical and laboratory profiles of B-ALL patients showing aberrant T/natural killer (NK) cell antigen expression. Materials and methods This is a prospective study where 152 consecutive B-ALL patients were analyzed for aberrant expression of T/NK cell antigens (CD1a, CD5, CD4, CD7, CD8 and CD56) by FCI. The clinical and laboratory profile of these T/NK-cell antigen-expressing B-ALL patients was statistically analyzed against conventional B-ALL patients. Results In our B-ALL cohort, CD5, CD7 and CD56 expression were observed in one, six and nine patients, respectively. CD56-expressing B-ALL patients were predominantly children (89%) and presented as standard clinical risk (p = 0.010) disease with frequent ETV6-RUNX1 fusion (p = 0.021) positivity. On the contrary, CD7-expressing B-ALL patients were adolescent-young adult/adult-age skewed (83%) and had an adverse cytogenetic profile (p = 0.001), especially for the frequent presence of BCR-ABL1 fusion (p = 0.004) and KMT2A rearrangement (p = 0.045). CD7-expressing B-ALL patients had inferior event-free survival (p = 0.040) than their CD56-expressing counterparts, but there was no significant difference in the overall survival (p = 0.317). Conclusion In comparison to conventional B-ALL patients, there are significant differences in the age, cytogenetic profile and event-free survival of T/NK-cell antigen-expressing B-ALL patients.

CD7 expression and its prognostic significance in acute myeloid leukemia patients with wild-type or mutant CEBPA / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To analyze the prognostic value of CD7 expression in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, and to further explore the correlation between CD7 expression and CEBPA mutation, and to clarify the prognostic value of CD7+ in AML patients with wild-type (WT) or mutant-type (MT) CEBPA.@*Methods@#The clinical data of 298 newly diagnosed non-M3 AML patients between January 2010 and December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. The clinical characteristics and prognosis of CD7+ and CD7- patients were respectively compared in all patients, and in patients with WT and MT CEBPA. The relationship between CD7 expression and CEBPA mutation was determined by chi-square, and the effects of CEBPA mutation on survival and prognosis in CD7+ group by Kaplan-Meier method.@*Results@#In CD7+ group, the frequencies of CEBPA mutation were 10.1% (single site) and 33.9% (double site) , significantly higher than those of the CD7- group (5.3% and 4.2%) (P=0.000) . Subgroup prognostic analysis showed a lower CR rate (P=0.001) and a higher RR (P=0.023) in CD7+ group comparing to those of CD7- group in AML patients with wild type CEBPA. There were no statistical difference between CD7+ group and CD7- group in overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (P>0.05) , while in the CEBPA mutant group the CD7+ group has higher OS (P=0.019) and DFS (P=0.010) . Based on the CD7 expression and CEBPA mutation, 298 cases were divided into 3 subgroups, named as CD7+-CEBPA MT group, CD7- and CD7+-CEBPA WT group. The 3-year OS of the 3 groups were 80.2%, 48.0% and 30.6%, respectively (P<0.001) , and the 3-year DFS were 74.1%, 37.4% and 22.2%, respectively (P<0.001) .@*Conclusion@#The CEBPA mutation rate was higher in CD7+ AML patients then that of CD7- patients. CD7 expression has opposite prognostic significance in AML patients carrying the wild-type or mutant-type CEBPA. Based on CD7 expression and CEBPA mutation, a new risk stratification model can be established, which is helpful to guide the clinical individualized treatment for AML patients.

Research progression on the first-line biological target therapy of advanced / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#[Abstract] Objective: To develop a new type of CD7 chimeric antigen receptor modified T cell (CD7-CAR-T) for the treatment of CD7 positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and to observe its killing effect on CD7 positive AML cells. Methods: The CD7-CAR lentiviral vector was constructed based on the CD7 Nanobody sequence and costimulatory domain sequence of CD28 and 4-1BB. The lentiviral particles were packaged and used to co-transfect human T cells with protein expression blocker (PEBL), so as to prepare CD7- CAR-T cells. Real time cellular analysis (RTCA) was used to monitor the cytotoxicity of CD7-CAR-T cells on CD7 overexpressed 293T cells. Flow cytometry assay was used to detect the effect of CD7-CAR-T cells on proliferation and cytokine secretion of AML cells with high, medium and low CD7 expressions (KG-1, HEL and Kasumi-1 cells, respectively). Results: CD7-CAR-T cell was successfully constructed and its surface expression of CD7 was successfully blocked. Compared with T cells, CD7-CAR-T cells could significantly inhibit the proliferation of CD7-293T cells and promote the release of TNF, Granzyme B and INF-γ; in addition, CD7-CAR-T cells also significantly promoted the apoptosis (t=147.1, P<0.01; t=23.57, P<0.01) and cytokine release (P<0.05 or P<0.01) in CD7 positive KG-1 and HEL cells, but had little effect on Kasumi-1 cells that only expressed minimal CD7 antigen (t=0.7058, P>0.05). Conclusion: CD7-CAR-T cells can specifically kill CD7-positive AML cells in vitro.

Acute myeloid leukemia patients with CD7 positive: analyses of cytogenetic and clinical characteristics / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective To investigate the cytogenetic and clinical features of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with CD7 positive. Methods Among 788 AML patients in the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC from January 2008 to December 2012, a total of 140 AML patients with CD7 positive were enrolled, and their clinical and cytogenetic characteristics were analyzed respectively. Results According to French-American-British (FAB) classification systems, M5[47.1 % (66/140)] and M2[27.1 % (38/140)] were often detected in 140 AML patients with CD7 positive. The positive rate of CD7 in M0patients [(60.9±13.2) %] was the highest, followed by (53.1±29.5) % in M1patient. Karyotype analysis showed that 72 (51.4 %) AML patients with CD7 positive had unfavorable karyotypes. Thirty-one (22.1 %) AML patients with CD7 positive simultaneously showed the expressions of lymphoid antigens. Clinically, some AML patients with CD7 positive was accompanied by hyperleukocytosis [75.0 % (105/140)] (white blood count ≥20×109/L) and hepatosplenomegaly [82.1 % (115/140)]. The proportion of elder patients (above 65 years old) and complete remission rate of AML with CD7 positive were lower than those of AML with CD7 negative [25.7 % (36/140) vs. 39.4 % (255/648);12.1 % (17/140) vs. 24.7 % (160/648), respectively], and there were statistical differences (χ 2＝ 8.62, P＝0.03; χ 2＝ 9.70, P＝ 0.01, respectively). Conclusion AML patients with CD7 positive have specific cytogenetic and clinical characteristics, and poor prognosis.

Frequent CD7 Antigen Loss in Aggressive Natural Killer-Cell Leukemia: A Useful Diagnostic Marker / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: Aggressive natural killer-cell leukemia (ANKL) is a rare neoplasm characterized by systemic proliferation of NK cells. However, the differential diagnosis of NK lymphoproliferative disorders is difficult because of the absence of a distinct diagnostic hallmark. Therefore, to identify diagnostic markers for ANKL, we analyzed the clinical data and laboratory findings obtained for 20 patients with ANKL. METHODS: From January 2000 to July 2007, 20 patients were diagnosed with ANKL on the basis of bone marrow studies. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features and laboratory findings, including the complete blood count, Epstein-Barr virus status, immunophenotype, and the cytogenetic results. RESULTS: The subjects included 6 women and 14 men (median age, 44 yr; range, 2-70 yr). Cytogenetic studies were performed in 18 patients, and karyotypic abnormalities were observed in 9 patients (50%). None of the cytogenetic abnormalities were constantly observed in all the patients. However, 6q abnormalities were observed in 4 patients (4/18, 22%). The immunophenotype of the leukemic NK-cells was cytoplasmic CD3+, surface CD3-, CD16/56+, CD2+, and CD5-. Notably, the CD7 antigen was absent in 10 patients (50%). When the CD7 loss was combined with cytogenetic abnormalities, clonal markers could be identified in 75% of the ANKL cases. CONCLUSIONS: The CD7 antigen loss was frequently observed in our series of ANKL patients. In conjunction with the cytogenetic findings, this characteristic immunophenotypic finding can serve as a reliable marker for the timely diagnosis of ANKL. Therefore, immunophenotypic analysis of CD7 expression should be included in the diagnosis of NK cell neoplasms.

A Case of CD7+, CD4-, CD8-, CD3-acute T cell lymphoblastic leukemia / 대한임상병리학회지

A CD7 positive acute leukemia, lacking CD4, CD8, CD3, CD13 and CD33 expression may include 4 categories; acute T-cell leukemia, mixed lineage leukemia, acute undifferentiated leukemia and CD7 positive acute myeloid leukemia. Therefore, the expression of cyCD3 or the presence of TCR gene rearrangement can make the diagnosis of acute T-cell leukemia. We report a patient with acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia, showing CD7+, CD4-CD8-, and CD3-expression and TCR gamma gene rearrangement.

A Case of Ectopic CD7(+) Congenital Monocytic Leukemia

Congenital acute leukemia is a rare disorder with approximately 200 cases reported. It is defined as a childhood leukemia occurring at birth or before 1 month of age at a rate of 1%. Acute leukemias are generally classified according to morphology, cytochemistry and cell surface marker expression. Most leukemias conform to an ordered lineage-specific pattern of gene expression, but a small subset of leukemias appears not to follow lineage restriction. Several reports revealed a subgroup of acute myelogenous leukemia(AML) that expresses CD7, a cell surface marker expressed early during T lineage differentiation, especially in less differentiated AML subtypes. We report a rare case of CD7(+) congenital monocytic leukemia(M5a) with detailed immunophenotypic and cytochemical characterization in an 8 week-old female. She had central nervous system (CNS) involvement at diagnosis. Chromosomal analysis revealed a mosaicism with 46,XX,-6,de1(7) (q21),t(19;21)(q13.3;q22)/46,XX, that has not been reported.

Immunohistochemical Study of T lymphocytes Infiltrated in Mycosis Fungoides: Comparison with Psoriasis and Eczema / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Sometimes, the clinical distinction between early-stage mycosis fungoides and benign inflammatory deimatoses such as psoriasis and dermatitis can be difficult, and it is not uncommon for the histological changes to be non-diagnostic in early-stage mycosis fungoides. Aberrant immunophenotypic expression of T cells occurs frequently in mycosis fungoides, but is uncommon in benign dermatosis. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the distribution and relative numbers of T lyinphocytes and epidermal cells labelled with various monoclonal antibodies in mycosis fungoides, psoriatic, and eczematous lesions by the immunoperoxidase technique. METHODS: Lesional skin tissues were obtained from 7 mycosis fungoides(10 tissues), 9 psoriasis, and 9 eczema patients. Immunohistochemical staining was done on the frozen sections using a labelled streptavidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method with primary antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD8, Leu-8, and HLA-DR. RESULTS: The infiltrating cells in mycosis fungoides, psoriatic, and eczematous lesions were uniformly stained with anti-CD3 and most of CD3+ T cells were also stained with anti-CD4. CD 7 expression of T cells was decreased predominantly in mycosis fungoides but loss of CD7 expression was not prominent in psoriatic and eczematous lesions. In the epidermis, HLA-DR was stained extensively in keratinocytes of mycosis fungoides, but only focal staining of HLA-DR was seen in psoriatic and eczematous lesions. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that CD4+, CD7- T cells and HLA-DR expression of keratinocytes participate in the development of mycosis fungoides, and are helpful in differentiating mycosis fungoides from psoriasis and eczema.

Bone Marrow Necrosis in CD7 positive Acute Myeloid Leukemia / 대한내과학회지

Bone marrow necrosis is infrequently diagnosed during life, and its presence often signifies a poor prognosis. It has been associated with a variety of disease, including acute and chronic leukemia, carcinoma, malignant lymph oma, infection and sickle cell disease. About 5-26% of acute myeloid leukemia has been reported to express lymphoid differentiation markers, of which CD7 is ex pressed very early during T-cell ontogeny. A 46-year-old male complaining severe bone pain had pancytopenia, leukoerythroblastosis and bone marrow necrosis. Peripheral blood immature cells expressed CD7 as well as myeloid markers such as CD13 and CD33 on immunophenotypic studies. We report a case of CD7 positive acute myeloid leu kemia associated with bone marrow necrosis, confirmed by bone marrow biopsy and immunophenotypic study.