Tzu Chi Medical Journal
Volume 21, Issue 1 , Pages 40-51, March 2009

Multidimensional Flow Cytometry for Detection of Rare Populations in Hematological Malignancies

  • Chi-Cheng Li

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology/Hematology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Department of Oncology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Michael R. Loken

      Affiliations

    • HematoLogics Inc., Seattle, Washington, USA
    • ,
  • Ruey-Ho Kao

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology/Hematology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Department of Oncology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Tso-Fu Wang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology/Hematology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Department of Oncology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Shii-Shou Tsai

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Shu-Min Hsu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Chao-Yuan Yao

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology/Hematology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Department of Oncology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Szu-Chin Li

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology/Hematology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Department of Oncology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Kuan-Po Huang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology/Hematology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Department of Oncology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Yi-Feng Wu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology/Hematology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Department of Oncology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Wei-Han Huang

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology/Hematology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Department of Oncology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Sung-Chao Chu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Oncology/Hematology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Department of Oncology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Department of Oncology/Hematology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, 707, Section 3, Chung-Yang Road, Hualien, Taiwan

Received 30 April 2008; received in revised form 23 May 2008; accepted 11 June 2008.

Article Outline

Abstract 

Objective

Flow cytometry is becoming an important tool in the characterization of different hematological disorders. The aim of our study was to detect very rare populations in hematological malignancies using the comprehensive concept of immunophenotyping.

Patients and Methods

Six patients, including three with acute myeloid leukemia, one with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, one with myelodysplastic syndrome, and one with B-cell lymphoma, were enrolled in this study. Serial bone marrow aspirates were analyzed by three-color multidimensional flow cytometry.

Results

The core principles for the use of flow cytometric analysis are understanding deviations in abnormal antigen expression from normal cellular differentiating pathways and characterizing different patterns of antigenic aberrancy for each patient. Our results demonstrate that multidimensional flow cytometry can be used to: (1) monitor minimal residual disease after treatment; (2) aid in the differential diagnosis of cases, which are difficult to evaluate using conventional morphology; and (3) help in the staging of lymphoproliferative disorders.

Conclusion

After selecting appropriate combinations of monoclonal antibodies, and applying advanced knowledge in immunophenotyping, flow cytometry is very sensitive and specific for the detection of rare populations in hematological disorders.

Keywords:  Flow cytometry , Leukemia , Lymphoproliferative disorder , Minimal residual disease , Myelodysplastic syndrome

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PII: S1016-3190(09)60007-0

doi:10.1016/S1016-3190(09)60007-0

Tzu Chi Medical Journal
Volume 21, Issue 1 , Pages 40-51, March 2009

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