NG2-expression as a marker for MRD: The molecule detected by moAb 7.1 can not be found on the surface of primitive CD34+ progenitor cells

The human homologue of the rat NG2 protein is being discussed as a potential marker for early minimal residual disease (MRD) detection in high risk 11q23-transformed leukemia. As recent studies have shown, the leukemic transformation can occure in CD34+ primitive stem/progenitor cells. Consequently a protein expressed on the leukemia initiating cell concurrent with the transformation, would be the key to early MRD detection. We analyzed bone marrow or peripheral blood samples of 8 patients positive for 11q23-aberrations by flow cytometry and determined the NG2 expression of CD117+, CD34+, CD19- cells in ALL samp…