Play all audios:
Access through your institution Buy or subscribe TO THE EDITOR We agree with Kussick _et al_1 that not every case of T-cell leukemia is easily classifiable. However, the only way forward in
establishing the correct diagnosis and improving the WHO classification is to be able to define new disease entities. Currently, there are no data in the literature, nor in their letter, to
support the view that there is a T-cell leukemia that should be classified as T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (T-CLL). Historically, the term ‘T-CLL’ was first used by Brouet _et al_2 in
1975, when they described patients who would now be considered largely to be part of T-cell large granular lymphocytic (T-LGL) leukemia and a few cases that we now call T-prolymphocytic
leukemia (T-PLL). A large number of subsequent reports and data emerging from the literature have allowed us to separate T-LGL leukemia from T-PLL.3,4 Since then, there has been no clear
evidence that a third entity, T-CLL, as proposed by Kussick _et al_,1 indeed exists. We recognize that in T-PLL there is a degree of morphological heterogeneity, which is already considered
in the WHO classification5 and in our experience.3,4,5,6 Therefore, the classification of T-cell malignancies should not be based purely on the morphological criteria but substantiated by
the underlying molecular/genetic features as well as clinical manifestations. Not all T-PLL cases have circulating cells with the morphology of prolymphocytes as in the classic 1974
description by Galton, which is more applicable to B-cell PLL. Although the term ‘prolymphocyte’ may not be ideal to use in this condition, it has been retained for historical reasons and
indeed, provided everybody understands the disease behavior and what this term defines, this should not be an issue. This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution Subscribe to this journal Receive 12 print issues and online access $259.00 per year only $21.58 per issue Learn more Buy this article *
Purchase on SpringerLink * Instant access to full article PDF Buy now Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout ADDITIONAL ACCESS OPTIONS: * Log in * Learn
about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support REFERENCES * Kussick SJ, Wood BL, Sabath DE . Mature T-cell leukemias which cannot be adequately classified under
the new WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms. _Leukemia_ 2002; 16: 2457–2458. Article CAS Google Scholar * Brouet JC, Sasportes M, Flandrin G, Preud'Homme JL, Seligmann M .
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia of T-cell origin. Immunological and clinical evaluation in eleven patients. _Lancet_ 1975; 2: 890–893. Article CAS Google Scholar * Matutes E,
Brito-Babapulle V, Swansbury J, Ellis J, Morilla R, Dearden C _et al_. Clinical and laboratory features of 78 cases of T-prolymphocytic leukemia. _Blood_ 1991; 78: 3269–3274. CAS PubMed
Google Scholar * Catovsky D, Matutes E . Leukemias of mature T cells. _Neoplastic Hematopathol_ 2001; 43: 1589–1602. Google Scholar * Catovsky D, Ralfkiaer E, Muller-Hermelink HK . T-cell
prolymphocytic leukaemia. In: Jaffe ES, Harris NL, Stein H, Vardiman JW, _WHO Classification of Tumours of Haemopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues_. Lyon: IARC Press, 2001; 195–196. Google Scholar
* Matutes E, Garcia-Talavera J, O'Brien M, Catovsky D . The morphological spectrum of T-prolymphocytic leukaemia. _Br J Haematol_ 1986; 64: 111–124. Article CAS Google Scholar *
Matutes E, Brito-Babapulle V, Dearden C, Yuille M, Catovsky D . Prolymphocytic leukemia of B and T cell types. Biology and therapy. _Chronic Lymphoid Leukemias_ 2000; 24: 525–542. Google
Scholar * Yuille MAR, Coignet LJA, Abraham SM, Yaqub F, Luo L, Matutes E _et al_. ATM is usually rearranged in T-cell prolymphocytic leukaemia. _Oncogene_ 1998; 16: 789–796. Article CAS
Google Scholar * Brito-Babapulle V, Pomfret M, Matutes E, Catovsky D . Cytogenetic studies on prolymphocytic leukemia. II. T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia. _Blood_ 1987; 70: 926–931. CAS
PubMed Google Scholar * Harris NL, Jaffe ES, Stein H, Banks PM, Chan JK, Cleary ML _et al_. A revised European–American classification of lymphoid neoplasms: a proposal from the
International Lymphoma Study Group. _Blood_ 1994; 84: 1361–1392. CAS Google Scholar * Pawson R, Dyer MJS, Barge R, Matutes E, Thornton PD, Emmett E _et al_. Treatment of T-cell
prolymphocytic leukemia with human CDw52 antibody. _J Clin Oncol_ 1997; 15: 2667–2672. Article CAS Google Scholar * Dearden CE, Matutes E, Cazin B, Tjonnfjord GE, Parreira A _et al_. High
remission rate in T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia with Campath-1H. _Blood_ 2001; 98: 1721–1726. Article CAS Google Scholar Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS
* Academic Department of Haematology & Cytogenetics, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK E Matutes & D Catovsky Authors * E Matutes View author publications You can also search
for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * D Catovsky View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions
ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Matutes, E., Catovsky, D. Classification of mature T-cell leukemias. _Leukemia_ 17, 1682–1683 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2403003 Download
citation * Received: 14 March 2003 * Accepted: 26 March 2003 * Published: 29 July 2003 * Issue Date: 01 August 2003 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2403003 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone
you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Get shareable link Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Copy to clipboard Provided by the
Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative