title: Relation of CD30 expression to survival and morphology in large cell B cell lymphomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether CD30 expression is correlated with anaplastic morphology, and whether this correlated with a better survival in large cell B cell lymphomas, as has been described for T cell lymphomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  CD30 expression was investigated using frozen sections in a series of 146 large cell B cell lymphomas. Clinical data and follow up information were collected from 25 lymphomas with strong CD30 expression, 30 lymphomas with partial CD30 expression, and a control group of 25 lymphomas which did not express CD30.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphological distinction between anaplastic and non-anaplastic tumours was difficult. Of the cases with an anaplastic morphology, 50% were CD30 positive, as were 24% of the polymorphic centroblastic B cell lymphomas. Only 65% of the morphologically non-anaplastic tumours were completely CD30 negative. There was no difference in survival among patients with lymphomas expressing CD30 and those that did not. Patients with morphologically anaplastic B cell lymphomas did not differ in their survivals from those with other high grade B cell lymphomas. Clinical stage at presentation was the only variable that was significantly associated with survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CD30 expression occurs frequently in large cell B cell lymphomas and is poorly related to anaplastic morphology. Morphological distinction between anaplastic and non-anaplastic tumours is difficult. In contrast to T cell lymphomas, CD30 positive B cell lymphomas do not show a relatively favourable clinical course. The results presented here raise serious doubts as to whether large cell B cell lymphoma, based on the expression of CD30 or anaplastic morphology, can really be termed a separate entity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Noorduyn
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: de Bruin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Heerde
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: van de Sandt
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Ossenkoppele
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Meijer
mesh_terms: D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis*; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging
chemical_list: D017730:Ki-1 Antigen