RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of surface molecule CD96 on stem cell (LSC) in children with acute leukemia, and to explore its clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Bone marrow mononuclear cells were isolated in 69 children with newly diagnosed acute leukemia. CD34(+)CD38(-)CD123(+) LSCs were separated from these cells by flow cytometry (FCM) and then cultured, and CD96 expression on LSCs was detected by FCM. R-banding technique was used to analyze the karyotypes of the 69 children, and the data of their routine blood and immunological tests were collected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CD96 was mainly expressed in children with acute myelogenous leukemia, and expressed to a lesser extent in those with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (P<0.05). The median expression level of CD96 in Uyghur children was 23.4%, versus 21.2% in Han children (P>0.05). The majority of children with CD96-positive children presented poor-prognosis karyotypes. Compared with CD96-negative children, children with CD96-positive children had a significantly lower complete remission rate (P<0.05) and significantly higher infection and relapse rates after chemotherapy (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Children with acute leukemia who have CD96-positive LSCs have a poor prognosis. CD96 may be a new indicator of prognosis in children with acute leukemia.</p>