The role of CD58 and CD38 in evaluation of minimal residual disease in childhood B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Background: Measurement of minimal residual disease (MRD) reflects the overall response to therapy, and could be used to refine the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). MRD studies by flowcytometry rely on panels of antibodies (Abs) to define unique immunophenotypic signature of leukemic blasts. Aim: to evaluate the role of CD38 and CD58 in detection of MRD in childhood B-ALL. Results: The mean age in our patients was 6.7 years. They were 54% males and 46% females. At day 14 post induction, 25% of our patients were negative for MRD, while 75% were positive for MRD. CD38 under-expression was +ve in 66.7%, while CD58 overexpression was +ve in 50% of the patients at diagnosis. There was a significant increase in +ve CD38 under-expression among patients had +ve MRD. Also there was a significant increase in +ve CD58 overexpression among patients had -ve MRD. CD38 underexpression demonstrated than CD58 overexpression. Conclusion: CD38 is a hopeful marker that needs to be used routinely for assessment of MRD. It is more informative than CD58 in B-ALL patients. CD38 under-expression has higher frequency and less modulation than CD58 overexpression during remission induction therapy.