Marker patterns in typical acute myeloid leukaemia
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CD45 expression in AML
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Expression of CD45 is "weak" i.e. significantly less intense than normal T cells, B cells or monocytes. The typically low side scatter means that myeloid blast cells tend to form a relatively uniform population separate from lymphocytes on CD45/SSc plots. However, there is some variability releted to indididual subtypes.
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Markers of pimitive cell type expected in AML
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These markers are generally regarded as indicating less differentiated cells, so may be expressed by any acute leukaemia type. When strongly expressed they have some value in indicating T or B lineage.
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Marker
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Expectation
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Comment
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CD34
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Frequently expressed, most often in less differentiated forms of AML. Expression often less intense than in lymphoid leukaemias
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TDT
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Expressed particularly in less differentiated forms of AML. Often on a sub-population of cells; expression usually less intense than in lymphoid leukaemias
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CD7
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Similar to TdT, CD7 expression is recognised on a proportion of AML, usually those with less differentiated phenotype. Most consistently expressed in T-ALL.
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Markers with strong lineage specificity in AML
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While not expressed by all cases, MPO can be considered to be lineage-defining marker in AML (or establishing myeloid lineage in MPAL).
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Marker
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Expectation
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Comment
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CD34
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Frequently expressed, most often in less differentiated forms of AML. Expression often less intense than in lymphoid leukaemias
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