Adverse prognostic significance of CD20 positive Reed-Sternberg cells in classical Hodgkin's disease.
The prognostic significance of CD20 positive classical Hodgkin's disease (cHD) is uncertain. All cHD cases referred to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) were retrospectively identified (5/92-11/00); the samples were immunostained, and clinical data ascertained. Cases were re-reviewed without knowledge of clinical outcome. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed 248 patients had cHD: 28 CD20(+) (11%); 220 CD20(-). All clinical characteristics were comparable except haemoglobin level at presentation. With a median follow-up of 29.2 months, significant prognostic factors in multivariate analysis were: CD20 positivity, elevated white blood cell count (WBC) and low absolute lymphocyte count for time-to treatment failure (TTF); and for overall survival (OS), CD20 positivity, elevated WBC count, bone marrow involvement and age >/=45 years. TTF was significantly poorer for ABVD-treated patients with CD20(+) cHD as compared with CD20(-) cHD. Among 167 patients treated at MSKCC, both TTF (P < 0.0001) and OS (P = 0.017) were significantly decreased in CD20(+) patients as compared with CD20(-) cHD. CD20(+) cHD is a poor prognostic factor for TTF and OS. All cHD cases should be immunophenotyped for CD20. A large prospective trial is needed to confirm these findings.
Portlock
Carol S
CS
Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA. portlocc@mskcc.org
Donnelly
Gerard B
GB
Qin
Jing
J
Straus
David
D
Yahalom
Joachim
J
Zelenetz
Andrew
A
Noy
Ariela
A
O'Connor
Owen
O
Horwitz
Steven
S
Moskowitz
Craig
C
Filippa
Daniel A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D016539:Reed-Sternberg Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D015996:Survival Rate
D018951:Antigens, CD20; D015415:Biomarkers