Monoclonal antibody OPD4 detects neoplastic T cells but does not distinguish between CD4 and CD8 neoplastic T cells in paraffin tissue sections.
Monoclonal antibody (MoAb) OPD4, reported to preferentially react with benign CD4 T cells in formalin-fixed tissue sections, was examined for its reactivity with 56 T-cell neoplasms after formalin or Bouin's fixation to determine if it also preferentially detects neoplastic CD4 T cells in paraffin tissue sections. Monoclonal antibody OPD4 did not preferentially detect neoplastic CD4 T cells, since it reacted with 22 of 38 (58%) CD4-positive compared with nine of 14 (64%) CD4-negative T-cell neoplasms. However, MoAb OPD4 appears to detect neoplastic T cells in Bouin's-fixed (11 of 20 cases [55%]) about as well as in formalin-fixed (20 of 32 cases [63%]) tissues. Since MoAb OPD4 does not preferentially react with neoplastic CD4 T cells, the utility of this MoAb as a pan-T-cell marker in routinely processed tissues was also explored and compared with that of Leu-22, UCHL-1, and CD3. All four antibodies reacted with approximately the same percentage of T-cell malignancies (51% to 57%). However, examination of different clinicopathologic groups and types of fixative highlighted differences. Monoclonal antibodies OPD4 and Leu-22 reacted with 62%, while CD3 detected only 41% of formalin-fixed, postthymic T-cell neoplasms. OPD4, UCHL-1, and CD3 each reacted with 55%, but Leu-22 recognized only 45% of Bouin's-fixed, postthymic T-cell malignancies. OPD4 reacted with none, but CD3 reacted with all four T-cell lymphoblastic lymphomas. Various antibody combinations were examined to determine an optimal panel for the recognition of T-cell neoplasms in paraffin sections. The combination of MoAbs OPD4 and Leu-22 detected 86% of postthymic T-cell neoplasms in formalin-fixed tissue sections. Furthermore, MoAb OPD4 appears to be relatively specific for T-cell neoplasms, detecting 31 of 56 (55%) T-cell malignancies, while only reacting with two of 39 (5%) B-cell neoplasms. Therefore, while not preferentially reactive with neoplastic CD4 T cells, MoAb OPD4 may be useful as a pan-T-cell marker of postthymic T-cell neoplasms in routinely processed, formalin-fixed tissues, especially when used in conjunction with MoAb Leu-22.
Chadburn
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Department of Pathology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY 10032.
Husain
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Knowles
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DM
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000032:analysis*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D017252:CD3 Complex; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D016827:CD8 Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D010232:Paraffin; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000032:analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016827:CD8 Antigens; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D010232:Paraffin; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens