BACKGROUND: At present, immunophenotyping of hematological malignancies represents one of the most relevant clinical applications of flow cytometry. In recent years, its use has extended from clinical research to diagnostic laboratories. The aim of this report is to critically review the type of information provided by the flow cytometric immunophenotyping of hematological malignancies and its clinical impact as well as to highlight its potential future applications. METHODS: The currently available information, including that provided by different international consensus groups on the phenotypic characterization of hematologic malignancies, was reviewed. Additionally, recent reports on the immunophenotypic analysis of hematological malignancies published in hematology, oncology, pathology, immunology, and cell biology journals were also analyzed. RESULTS: A careful review of the literature showed that in spite of the well-established utility of immunophenotyping for the diagnosis, classification, prognostic stratification, and monitoring of hematological malignancies, only a small part of the information on the immunophenotypic characteristics of pathological hemopoietic cells has been used routinely. Specific and sensitive identification of neoplastic cells and their accurate enumeration and phenotypic characterization represent the major aims of these procedures. Similarities between leukemic and healthy cells allow the establishment of the lineage and maturation stage of the pathologic cells, this information being of great utility for the diagnosis, classification, and prognostic evaluation of different subtypes of hematological malignancies. On the other hand, the phenotypic aberrations displayed by leukemic cells could allow the selection of cases carrying specific genetic abnormalities in which further confirmatory molecular studies will be performed. CONCLUSIONS: The information provided by the flow cytometric immunophenotyping of hematological malignancies is of great clinical utility, with a major challenge for the near future being the standardization of technical procedures, data interpretation, and reporting.
BACKGROUND: At present, immunophenotyping of hematological malignancies represents one of the most relevant clinical applications of flow cytometry. In recent years, its use has extended from clinical research to diagnostic laboratories. The aim of this report is to critically review the type of information provided by the flow cytometric immunophenotyping of hematological malignancies and its clinical impact as well as to highlight its potential future applications. METHODS: The currently available information, including that provided by different international consensus groups on the phenotypic characterization of hematologic malignancies, was reviewed. Additionally, recent reports on the immunophenotypic analysis of hematological malignancies published in hematology, oncology, pathology, immunology, and cell biology journals were also analyzed. RESULTS: A careful review of the literature showed that in spite of the well-established utility of immunophenotyping for the diagnosis, classification, prognostic stratification, and monitoring of hematological malignancies, only a small part of the information on the immunophenotypic characteristics of pathological hemopoietic cells has been used routinely. Specific and sensitive identification of neoplastic cells and their accurate enumeration and phenotypic characterization represent the major aims of these procedures. Similarities between leukemic and healthy cells allow the establishment of the lineage and maturation stage of the pathologic cells, this information being of great utility for the diagnosis, classification, and prognostic evaluation of different subtypes of hematological malignancies. On the other hand, the phenotypic aberrations displayed by leukemic cells could allow the selection of cases carrying specific genetic abnormalities in which further confirmatory molecular studies will be performed. CONCLUSIONS: The information provided by the flow cytometric immunophenotyping of hematological malignancies is of great clinical utility, with a major challenge for the near future being the standardization of technical procedures, data interpretation, and reporting.
Authors: J J M van Dongen; L Lhermitte; S Böttcher; J Almeida; V H J van der Velden; J Flores-Montero; A Rawstron; V Asnafi; Q Lécrevisse; P Lucio; E Mejstrikova; T Szczepański; T Kalina; R de Tute; M Brüggemann; L Sedek; M Cullen; A W Langerak; A Mendonça; E Macintyre; M Martin-Ayuso; O Hrusak; M B Vidriales; A Orfao Journal: Leukemia Date: 2012-05-03 Impact factor: 11.528
Authors: Margarida Lima; Julia Almeida; Andrés García Montero; Maria dos Anjos Teixeira; Maria Luís Queirós; Ana Helena Santos; Ana Balanzategui; Alexandra Estevinho; Maria del Cármen Algueró; Paloma Barcena; Sónia Fonseca; Maria Luís Amorim; José Manuel Cabeda; Luciana Pinho; Marcos Gonzalez; Jesus San Miguel; Benvindo Justiça; Alberto Orfão Journal: Am J Pathol Date: 2004-10 Impact factor: 4.307
Authors: Igor Matushansky; Eva Hernando; Nicholas D Socci; Tulio Matos; Joslyn Mills; Mark A Edgar; Gary K Schwartz; Samuel Singer; Carlos Cordon-Cardo; Robert G Maki Journal: Am J Pathol Date: 2008-02-29 Impact factor: 4.307