Diagnostic value and biological significance of CD71 in lymphoid disorders

Background The CD71 expression is tightly regulated by intracellular iron level, cell proliferation, or erythropoiesis at levels of receptor recycling, as well as transcriptional or posttranscriptional control. In the previous studies, CD71 was expressed by most of acute leukemia and chronic granulocytic leukemia in blast crisis with a variable density of expression. Only few studies have observed CD71 as a diagnostic and prognostic marker in cases of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) as a type of acute leukemia. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and biological significance of CD71 in lymphoid disorders. Aim and objectives This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value and biological significance of CD71 in lymphoid disorders. Patients and methods The present research was carried out on 60 patients diagnosed with lymphoid disorders (benign lymphocytosis, ALL, CLL, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma) who presented to Assiut University Hospital from July 2020 till July 2021. Results CD71 expression was significantly higher in acute disorders (immature cell-type tumors of malignant lymphoid disorders) than in benign lymphocytosis and chronic disorders (immature cell-type tumors of malignant lymphoid disorders), with strong relation with the positivity of CD34 and TdT. Conclusion CD71 helps to differentiate between lymphoid disorders and further helps in discriminating the differentiation status of ALL. High expression of CD71 might reflect a much more aggressive and immature cell type. However, further prospective investigations are needed to document the possible relation of CD71 with response to treatment and relapse rate. Moreover, high expression of CD71 with clonal evolution in leukemia may predict the possibility of being an important molecular target in future therapy of acute leukemia.