title: CD20 Over-Expression in Hodgkin-Reed-Sternberg Cells of Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma: the Neglected Quest.
abstract: We have scrutinized a previously analyzed cohort of classical Hodgkin lymphoma patients for evidence of a CD20 over-expression. This was pursued in order to determine whether all the 24 (12.6%) CD20+++ patients had clinical and/or biological profiles which would warrant a separate consideration and treatment or would carry a different outcome from our 166 CD20 (-) classical Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Except for an older age and a significantly lower expression of non-sialyl-CD15 antigen, both previously described in classical Hodgkin lymphoma, no justification to exclude these CD20+++ patients from the cohort at large is apparent. We suggest that the generally accepted view to the contrary be revised. In addition, we propose alternative interpretations for the low expression of CD20 found in a majority of Hodgkin-Reed-Sternberg cells in classical Hodgkin lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Pathology, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Benharroch
authors.affiliation: 1. Department of Pathology, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nalbandyan
authors.affiliation: 2. Department of Oncology, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva and Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lazarev
keywords: CD15; CD20; classical Hodgkin lymphoma; fixation effect; older patients