CD10 antigen density in childhood common acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: comparisons of race and sex.

During the 25 month period from July 1989 until August 1991, 58 children with FAB defined acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) were referred for immunophenotypic analysis. Of these, 42 children with a common/pre-B phenotype (CD19/CD10-positive) were studied specifically to assess CD10 antigen density. A pattern of segregation was found between males and females and between black and white children. Black males, who are the worst prognostic group, had the lowest CD10 density, while white females, known to constitute the best prognostic group, had significantly higher CD10 antigen density than the other groups. Black females and white males occupied intermediate positions with respect to CD10 antigen density. A two way analysis of variance showed that although sex had contributed significantly to this variation (p = 0.0038), the contribution of race was marginal (p = 0.0530). It is hypothesized that low CD10 antigen density patterns in males and in Blacks could be causally related to poor prognosis.