Re: NK cells #2

From: woodbl (woodbl@u.washington.edu)
Date: Tue Aug 03 1999 - 16:11:56 EST


> I sent the first message too soon. The "NK-cell" leukemia is CD5+, CD2+,
> CD3-, CD4+, CD8-, CD57+, CD56- and CD16- but we don't know TRCab. The
> patient has had some sort of lymphoproliferative process for a long time.
> This smells like a CD3- T-cell tumor to me. NK cell neoplasms are usually
> CD56+ and aggressive. Any thoughts? Anyone seen this before?
>
>     Maryalice
> Maryalice Stetler-Stevenson
> Director Flow Cytometry Unit
> Laboratory of Pathology, NCI, NIH

The expression of CD4 and CD5 would be extremely unusual for an NK cell
process, and I agree are most consistent with a T-cell neoplasm.  We
certainly have seen CD3- T cell lymphoproliferative disorders that have
unusual immunophenotypes like you are reporting.  Demonstration of clonality
by T-cell PCR  of either gamma or beta chain would help confirm the T cell
nature of the process.
--
Brent Wood MD PhD
Associate Director of Hematology Laboratory
University of Washington Medical Center
EM: woodbl@u.washington.edu  Phone: (206) 548-6199  Fax: (206) 548-6189



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