Monocyte markers and the common acute lymphoblastic leukemia antigen on chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells.

The mononuclear cells from 42 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were analyzed for surface markers using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytofluorimetry. All 42 CLLs were Ig+HLA.DR+OKT3-OKT4-OKT6-OKT8- and monoclonal with respect to light chain type. Thirty of the 42 tumors expressed the common acute lymphocytic leukemia antigen, and cells from 18 leukemias stained with the antibodies OKM1 and 63D3, which are specific for different antigens characteristic of myeloid cells. Eight of the leukemias failed to stain with PI153, which has been reported to recognize all B-cell CLLs.