LILRB1: A Novel Diagnostic B-Cell Marker to Distinguish Neoplastic B Lymphoblasts From Hematogones.

Saumell Tutusaus, Silvia; Pirruccello, Elaina; Fuda, Franklin; Churchill, Hywyn; Chen, Dong; Zhang, Cheng Cheng; Chen, Weina · Am J Clin Pathol · 2021

case_series · Level IV

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Abstract

New B-cell markers are needed for monitoring B lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in the era of immunotherapies directed against CD19 and CD22. The expression of leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor subfamily B member 1 (LILRB1) on hematogones in bone marrow (BM) and neoplastic B lymphoblasts has not yet been systematically investigated. We assessed LILRB1 expression pattern on B cells in 19 control BMs and 22 B-ALL cases by flow cytometry. In all cases, mature B cells and hematogones exhibited a consistent pattern of LILRB1 expression with variable intensity over different stages of maturation, including a characteristic V-shaped pattern on hematogones. While neoplastic B lymphoblasts in all cases expressed LILRB1, the pattern of expression was distinctly abnormal relative to hematogones (loss of the dynamic pattern in all cases and abnormal expression levels in 83% of cases). LILRB1 is a novel diagnostic B-cell marker to aid in distinguishing neoplastic B lymphoblasts from hematogones.

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