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Diagnostic value of CD117 in differential diagnosis of acute leukemias

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Tumor Biology

Abstract

C-kit receptor (CD117) and its ligand, stem cell factor, play a key role in normal hematopoiesis. It has been demonstrated that its expression extremely increases in leukemias with myeloid commitment. We analyzed findings on CD117 expression together with other myeloid related markers in 203 de novo acute leukemias, referred to Iranian immunophenotyping centers: Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) and Baghiatallah Hospital (BH). All cases were characterized based on the French American British cooperative group (FAB) and European Group for Immunological Classification of Leukemias (EGIL). The cases comprised of 111 acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML), 86 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and 6 acute undifferentiated leukemia (AUL). CD117 was positive in 75 % of AML and 50 % of AUL, whereas none of the ALL cases was positive for this marker. Although CD117 was positive in 100 % of M5a cases, no M5b positive was found (p = 0.036). The calculated specificity for myeloid involvement was 100 % for CD117 and CD33, and 98 % for CD13 and CD15 (p < 0.001). The calculated sensitivity for myeloid involvement was 83, 76, 64, and 41 % for CD13, CD117, CD33, and CD15, respectively (p < 0.001). We concluded that CD117 expression is a specific and rather sensitive marker for differential diagnosis between AML and ALL, and except for M5 subtypes, it fails to determine FAB subtypes; lack of expression in M5 can identify M5b. Therefore, it should be included in the routine primary panel for diagnosis of acute leukemias.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank all the patients for participating in the study. Financial supports for this study were provided by the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, Tehran, Iran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Pasdaran Boulevard, Sanandaj, Iran

    Abbas Ahmadi

  2. Immunology Department, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Ali-Akbar Poorfathollah

  3. Flowcytometry Department, Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, Tehran, Iran

    Mahnaz Aghaiipour & Mahin Nikoo-ghoftar

  4. Biostatistics Department, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

    Mansour Rezaei

  5. Department of Pathology and Medical Laboratory Sciences, Para-Medicine Faculty, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

    Mohammad Abdi

  6. Deputy of Research and Technology, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran

    Alireza Gharib

  7. Exercise Physiology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Amir Amini

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  1. Abbas Ahmadi
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  2. Ali-Akbar Poorfathollah
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  3. Mahnaz Aghaiipour
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  4. Mansour Rezaei
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  5. Mahin Nikoo-ghoftar
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  6. Mohammad Abdi
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  7. Alireza Gharib
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  8. Amir Amini
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Correspondence to Abbas Ahmadi.

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Ahmadi, A., Poorfathollah, AA., Aghaiipour, M. et al. Diagnostic value of CD117 in differential diagnosis of acute leukemias. Tumor Biol. 35, 6763–6768 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-014-1899-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-014-1899-8

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