Serum levels of CD8 antigen in childhood lymphoid malignancies: a possible indicator of increased suppressor cell activity in poor-risk patients.

Abstract

Serum concentrations of CD8 antigen were measured at diagnosis with an enzyme-linked immunoassay in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n = 344) or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 65). All patients had detectable levels of the serum antigen, which in its soluble nonreduced form appeared to be a 52-Kd homodimer as compared with the 66-Kd surface membrane component on most thymocytes and on a subset of functionally distinct T cells (suppressor/cytotoxic). Increased serum levels of CD8 in leukemia patients were significantly related to recognized high-risk prognostic features: high leukocyte count, large liver and spleen size, high serum lactic dehydrogenase level, T-cell immunophenotype, presence of a mediastinal mass, pseudodiploid karyotype, DNA index less than 1.16, and chromosomal translocation. Children with serum CD8 levels greater than or equal to 450 U/mL were more likely to fail treatment than were those with lower levels (P = .002), even in the group with non-T-cell leukemia (P = .003). In a multivariate analysis, serum CD8 antigen contributed independent prognostic information beyond that conveyed by age, leukocyte count, and race (P = .02). High serum CD8 antigen levels also correlated with advanced stages of disease in children with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or B-cell leukemia. Children with higher serum CD8 antigen levels (greater than or equal to 700 U/mL) had a poorer treatment outcome (P = .003), even after results were adjusted for disease stage and serum lactic dehydrogenase level (P = .05). Measurement of serum levels of CD8 antigen not only has important prognostic value in childhood lymphoid malignancies but also could be useful in assessing the immunoregulatory role of T cells in patients with cancer.

• Authors: C H Pui, S H Ip, R K Dodge, S Carrabis, M Brown, W M Crist, C W Berard, P Kung, G V Dahl, S B Murphy
• Journal: Blood (Blood) Vol. 72 Issue 3 Pg. 1015-21 (Sep 1988) ISSN: 0006-4971 [Print] United States
• PMID: 2970871 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
• Antigens, Surface
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• CD8 Antigens

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Animals
• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte (analysis, immunology)
• Antigens, Surface (analysis, immunology)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood, immunology)
• CD8 Antigens
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Infant
• Leukemia, Lymphoid (blood, drug therapy, immunology)
• Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin (blood, drug therapy, immunology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Prognosis
• Risk Factors
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory (immunology)