CD83 expression in Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: correlation with clinical outcome

Abstract Background: CD83 is not expressed by peripheral blood cells except mature dendritic cells and some activated lymphocytes. It is expressed with high concentration in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, adult acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and lymphomas. Aim: to detect the percentage of CD83 on lymphoblast in peripheral blood of adult ALL patients by flowcytometry and to investigate its prognostic role with correlation to clinical outcome as well as response to treatment and survival. Patients and Methods: We analysed CD83 expression by flowcytometry on peripheral blood lymphoblast in 40 adults newly diagnosed ALL patients and on normal lymphocytes in 20 healthy controls of matched age and sex. Results: Our patients exhibited a statistically significant increase in CD83 expression on their peripheral blood lymphoblast compared to lymphocytes of the control group [median 19.5 % (IQR 5.4-48.15%) vs 7 % (IQR 6.1-8.5%), respectively, p=0.012]. Patients were divided into two groups: a group with high CD83 (>9.8%) and the other with normal CD83 expression (≤9.8%) compared to the control group using ROC curve. Complete remission was achieved in 18(69.2%) patients with higher CD83 expression vs 7(50%) patients with normally expressed CD83. The median (IQR) of the overall survival and disease-free survival was longer than those normally expressed CD83 versus those with higher expression [180(IQR 60-240) &105(IQR 30-160) vs 80(IQR 60-240) &51(IQR 22-150) days, respectively. Conclusion: CD83 is a novel prognostic test in ALL patients and acts as a predictor for response to treatment.