Immunologic classification of lymphocytic leukemias based on monoclonal antibody-defined cell surface antigens.

A panel of monoclonal antibodies reactive with normal lymphocyte subsets was used to classify cases of lymphocytic leukemia on the basis of cell surface antigen expression. The antibodies employed were commercially available and included a common framework HLA-DR antibody, two pan-T antibodies (Leu-1 and OKT-3), and antibodies defining cytotoxic/suppressor (Leu-2 and OKT-8) and helper/inducer (Leu-3 and OKT-4) subpopulations of normal T lymphocytes. Cases of ALL could be subgrouped into non-T non-B, pre-T and T-ALL on the basis of reactivity with HLA-DR, Leu-1, and OKT-3 antibodies. Leukemic cells from patients with T-cell CLL could be divided into Leu-2/OKT-8 reactive and Leu-3/OKT-4 reactive subpopulations, as well as a subgroup in which the majority of cells were unreactive with either of these antibodies. With the exception of one individual, all Sézary cell leukemias expressed a phenotypic pattern similar to that of the Leu-3 subgroup of T-CLL. Malignancies of B-cell lineage (B-CLL, prolymphocytic leukemia, and lymphosarcoma) that were examined were reactive with both the HLA-DR and Leu-1 antibodies. On the contrary, normal B lymphocytes and lymphoid cell lines of B-cell origin did not express surface antigens recognized by the Leu-1 antibody.