Lack of Prognostic Value of Lymphoblast Size in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

Abstract
There are conflicting reports about the relationship of cell size and type to prognosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). For this reason, bone marrows at diagnosis and 1st relapse were studied in 56 children with ALL treated on the same protocol. Lymphoblasts greater than 12 m.mu. in diameter were called macrolymphoblasts (MLB). Forty-one of 56 initial bone marrows had less than 20% MLB (group A), and 15 had greater than 20% MLB (group B). Median survival, complete remission rate, 1st remission duration and the distribution of CNS leukemia were similar in both groups. First relapse marrows were examined from 50 patients, and a significant increase in MLB, compared to initial pretreatment bone marrows (18% vs. 8%), was found.