Absolute T Cell Counts At Diagnosis Predict Absolute Lymphocyte Counts Throughout Therapy For Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Evidence For Age-Related Loss Of T Cells and Poor Outcome

Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) during early therapy has been established as an independent prognostic factor in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Importantly, ALC can refine minimal residual disease (MRD)-based risk stratification, particularly for MRD-positive patients. However age-dependent effects on ALC, the lymphocyte subtype (T, NK, B) which underlies this finding, and the role of ALC at relapse are not yet known.