Research Article

NK Cells as Possible Prognostic Factor in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Table 1

Characteristics at initial diagnosis of group I (NK+) and group II (NK-).

VariablesOverall ()Group value
Group I (NK+)
()
median (25-75Q) N (%)
Group II (NK-)
()
median (25-75Q) N (%)

BCP ALL/T ALL Chi-squared test p 0.1675/9 (89.3/10.7%)67/7 (90.5/9.5%)8/2 (80/20%)
Age (yrs) median (range)5 (3–9)5 (3–10)5 (4–8)0.91
Gender (M/F)49/35 (58/42%)42/32 (56.8/43.2%)7/3 (70/30%)0.02
Ph(+)/Ph(-)5/79 (6/94%)4/71 (5/95%)1/8 (11/89%)0.95
Protocol ALLIC 2002/200947/37 (56/44%)40/34 (54/46%)7/3 (70/30%)0.29
Risk groups SRG/IRG/HRG24/46/14 (28.6/54.8/16.6%)22/40/12 (29.8/54/16.2%)2/6/2 (20/60/20%)0.84
Day 8 PGR/PPR78/6 (92.8/7.2%)71/3 (96/4%)7/3 (70/30%)0.01
Day 15 bone marrow M1/M2/M363/13/8 (75/15.5/9.5%)60/7/7 (81/9.5/9.5%)3/6/1 (30/60/10%)0.03
Day 15 () MRD <0.01/0.01-≤10.0/>10.018/11/8 (48.6/29.8/21.6%)16/10/8 (47.1/29.4/23.5%)2/1/0 (66.7/33.3/0%)0.03
Day 33 bone marrow 80/4 (95/5%)70/4 (94.6/5.4%)9/1 (90/10%)0.81

Bone marrow M1 < 5% lymphoblasts; bone marrow M2 ≥ 5–<25% lymphoblasts; bone marrow M3 ≥ 25% lymphoblasts. Day 15: minimal residual disease was made in 37 pts. HRG: high-risk group. IRG: intermediate-risk group. SRG: standard-risk group. MRD: minimal residual disease. Ph (+): Philadelphia chromosome positive. Ph (-): Philadelphia chromosome negative. PGR: prednisone good response (blast cells in peripheral blood < 1000.0/μl). PPR: prednisone poor response (blast cells in peripheral blood ≥ 1000.0/μl).