title: CD20-negative diffuse large B-cell lymphomas: biology and emerging therapeutic options.
abstract: CD20-negative diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a rare and heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative disorders. Known variants of CD20-negative DLBCL include plasmablastic lymphoma, primary effusion lymphoma, large B-cell lymphoma arising in human herpesvirus 8-associated multicentric Castleman disease and anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive DLBCL. Given the lack of CD20 expression, atypical cellular morphology and aggressive clinical behavior characterized by chemotherapy resistance and inferior survival rates, CD20-negative DLBCL represents a challenge from the diagnostic and therapeutic perspectives. The goals of the present review are to summarize the current knowledge on the biology of the distinct variants of CD20-negative DLBCL, provide future therapeutic directions based on the limited preclinical and clinical data available, and increase awareness concerning these rare malignancies among pathologists and clinicians.
authors: Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, 450 Brookline Ave, M221, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
authors: Jorge J
authors: JJ
authors: Castillo
authors: Julio C
authors: JC
authors: Chavez
authors: Francisco J
authors: FJ
authors: Hernandez-Ilizaliturri
authors: Santiago
authors: S
authors: Montes-Moreno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000032:analysis*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D005871:Castleman Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: ALK-positive DLBCL; CD20-negative; multicentric Castleman disease; plasmablastic lymphoma; primary effusion lymphoma