Immunohistochemical analysis of CDw52 antigen expression in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the antigen expression of CDw52 using Campath-1 antibodies in a series of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs).


METHODS
Tissue sections of lymphoma were stained immunohistochemically using rat Campath-1G and humanised Campath-1H with avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex techniques. Fifty-two fresh frozen lymphomas and a further 26 paraffin wax embedded sections were studied.


RESULTS
Thirty-seven out of 41 B cell lymphomas were positive with Campath-1H in frozen sections (low grade, 24 of 24; high grade, 13 of 17) as were three out of five T cell lymphomas. Reed-Sternberg cells in six cases of Hodgkin's disease did not react. Eleven out of 16 high grade B cell lymphomas also stained positively with Campath-1G in paraffin wax sections as did five out of 10 T cell lymphomas.


CONCLUSIONS
The Campath-1 antibodies showed that CDw52 antigen expression was present in all cases of low grade B cell NHL examined. Immunohistochemical staining in high grade B cell NHL and in T cell NHL was variable. These findings may be relevant to patient selection when considering treatment with Campath-1 antibodies.
Department of Histopathology, King's College School of Medicine and Dentistry, London.
J R
JR
Salisbury
N T
NT
Rapson
J D
JD
Codd
M V
MV
Rogers
A B
AB
Nethersell
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000074301:CD52 Antigen; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000276:immunology*; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000074301:CD52 Antigen; C000613862:CD52 protein, human; C000613864:Cd52 protein, rat; D006023:Glycoproteins