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Distribution of a New B-Cell-associated Surface Antigen (BL7) Detected by a Monoclonal Antibody in Human Leukemic Disorders¹

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021

A murine monoclonal antibody (anti-BL7) was raised by immunization of BALB/c mice with a precursor B-cell line (Josh-7) which detects a heat-stable, nonimmunoprecipitable antigen. The expression of BL7 was investigated in peripheral blood and/or bone marrow leukemic cell suspensions stained by indirect immunofluorescence and analyzed by flow cytometry. Lymphoblasts from 43 of 43 cases of "null" acute lymphoblastic leukemia were BL7^-. Five cases of T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 5 cases of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-positive blastic chronic myelogenous leukemia were also BL7^-. All 63 cases of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia were BL7⁺. Neoplastic cells in 22 of 28 cases of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in leukemic phase were also BL7⁺. Expression of BL7 showed some correlation with Rappaport's histological classification. Four cases of multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia were BL7^-. Twenty-three cases of acute nonlymphocytic leukemias were also analyzed. Of these, only the acute promyelocytic (M3, 4 cases) and acute myelomonocytic (M4, one case) varieties expressed BL7 on a small proportion (approximately 15%) of the leukemic cells. All other subgroups were BL7^-. The reactivity of anti-BL7 was compared to other B-cell antibodies on selected samples and was shown to be different from B1, B2, and the BA antibodies. Anti-BL7 is a unique monoclonal antibody useful in the study of B-cell cancers.

¹ This work was supported in part by grants from the National Cancer Institute (CA-20195, CA-08748, CA-05826, and AI18321), the Zelda Weintraub Cancer Fund, the Norman and Rosita Winston Foundation, Inc., Dr. Burton J. Lee, and the Julie Gould Foundation for Medical Research.

Received 3/12/84. Revised 2/13/85. Accepted 4/ 5/85.