[Clinical relevance of immune phenotyping of malignant lymphomas].
The characterization of malignant lymphomas with immunological methods (immunophenotyping) is gaining increasing importance in clinical hematology. Immunophenotyping is not only a basis of modern classifications of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (e.g. the Kiel classification), it can also be helpful in the differentiation of lymphomas from epithelial or mesenchymal tumors. The immunological identification of subgroups of acute lymphocytic leukemia (c-ALL, T-ALL and B-ALL) bears significant meaning for differential therapy. Other applications of immunophenotyping of malignant lymphomas in the near future will be the demonstration of receptors for certain lymphokines (e.g. for therapy with interleukin-2 or tumor-necrosis-factor), the detection of specific cell surface antigens (for immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies) and the demonstration of immunological markers for resistance to cytotoxic drugs. A general application of immunophenotyping of malignant lymphomas in clinical hematology will depend on a better standardization of the immunological reagents, a simplification of logistic problems and a significant reduction of the costs.
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000235:genetics; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000175:diagnosis; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000954:Antigens, Surface
Klinische Relevanz der Immunophänotypisierung maligner Lymphome.