Unique cell surface glycoprotein expression in hairy cell leukemia: effect of phorbol ester tumor promoters on surface glycoproteins, cell morphology, and adherence.

Hairy cell leukemia cells from eight different patients exhibited a characteristic cell surface glycoprotein pattern when labeled by the neuraminidase-galactose oxidase-NaB3H4 procedure. The diffuse high-molecular-weight glycoprotein band (Mr 230,000 to 300,000) was not seen in other leukemic cell types and may represent a specific hairy cell leukemia antigen. Hairy cell leukemia cells can be maintained as cell suspension cultures, but treatment with a variety of tumor-promoting phorbol esters caused the cells to adhere to plates, assume a fibroblastic elongated shape, and extend long processes. This dramatic morphological change was not associated with any change in surface glycoproteins.