Leukemic cells of a 19 year old patient with prolymphocytic leukemia of T-cell type (T-PLL) were characterized by surface markers and immunologic functions. Phenotypic analysis using a large panel of monoclonal antibodies corresponding to the clusters (CD) of differentiation antigens established on the Leukocyte Typing Workshops I and II revealed a unique T-cell phenotype not yet reported in the literature: CD1 (T6)-, CD2 (T11)+, CD3 (T3)+, CD4 (T4)-, CD5 (T1)-, CD6 (T411)+, CD7 (Leu9)+, CD8 (T811)-, CD10 (J5)-, CD11 (M22)+, CD12 (M67)-, CD13 (My7)-, CD14 (Mo2)-, CD16 (Vep13, 3G8, Leu11)+, CD18 (MHM23)+, CD19 (B4)-, CD20 (B1)-, CD25 (TAC)-, MHC-class II (HLA-DR, HLA-DQ)-, NKH1A+, Leu7-. Despite the expression of surface structures associated with natural killer (NK) function (CD16, CD18, NKH 1 A) the T-PLL cells were inactive in NK assays in vitro. Low in vitro ADCC activity was detectable. This unusual T-PLL phenotype might help to identify a new distinct T-cell differentiation stage.