title: Frequent expression of haemopoietic and non-haemopoietic antigens by neoplastic plasma cells: an immunohistochemical study using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that neoplastic plasma cells express various haemopoietic and non-haemopoietic antigens. Since this issue could raise problems in diagnostic histopathology, we have investigated 51 cases of multiple myeloma (plasmacytoma) systematically with a broad panel of antibodies applicable on paraffin-embedded and mildly decalcified tissue. In approximately 90% of the cases the neoplastic plasma cells reacted with at least one antibody detecting haemopoietic antigens: MB2 (75%), DF-T1/CD 43 (59%), UCHL1/CD 45RO (47%), Ki-B3 (41%), anti-LCA/CD 45 (40%), L26/CD 20 (26%), 4KB5/CD 45RA (18%), Ber H2/CD 30 (10%), anti-neutrophil elastase (4%), anti-Leu-7/CD 57 (8%), Dako-M1/CD 15 (2%), KP1/CD 68 (2%) and anti-glycoprotein IIIa (2%). In approximately 70% of the cases the cells reacted with antibodies against non-haemopoietic antigens: anti-epithelial membrane antigen (65%), BMA120 (53%), anti-vimentin (44%), anti-pan-cytokeratin/KL1 (8%), anti-carcino-embryonic antigen (6%) and HMB45 (6%). Lack of awareness of the frequent expression of both haemopoietic and non-haemopoietic antigens by neoplastic plasma cells could lead to mis-diagnosis of plasmacytomas as malignant lymphomas or even as carcinomas or sarcomas.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Eberhard-Karls University, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: U R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Petruch
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Horny
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaiserling
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm