DETERMINATION OF VASCULARIZATION OF B-CELL NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS WITH 4 MARKERS - AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY

We evaluated the microvessel area (an index of angiogenesis) by using the factor VIII-related antigen (factor VIII-RA), and the expression o f three components of the subendothelial basement membrane, namely: te nascin, laminin and type IV collagen. The four markers were assessed b y immunohistochemical methods in 57 B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (B- NHL) and 28 benign lymphadenopathies. We found that microvessel area a nd the basement membrane markers had a different distribution pattern in relation to the histological type and degree of malignancy. In reac tive and atypical lymphoid hyperplasias and in follicular low- and int ermediate-grade B-NHL, microvessels were distributed within the interf ollicular zones. By contrast, diffuse intermediate-grade and high-grad e B-NHL were highly vascularized and microvessels were closely related to the neoplastic cells. Microvessel area was significantly associate d with tenascin expression in all histological grades. Conversely, it was not correlated to laminin and type IV collagen expression, especia lly in diffuse intermediate-grade and high-grade B-NHL, where the expr ession of these markers was poor and fragmented. Our study suggests th at angiogenesis and tenascin expression are associated phenomena in B- NHL, and that both increase with the malignancy grade. The prognostic value of angiogenesis and tenascin in B-NHL warrants further assessmen t in follow-up studies.