IMMUNOPHENOTYPIC ANALYSIS OF CHILDHOOD BURKITTS-LYMPHOMA IN THE WEST MIDLANDS 1957-1986

Aims - To analyse the immunophenotype of a large number of non-endemic Burkitt's lymphomas to determine whether a B cell phenotype is consis tently recognisable using formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded archiv al material and a standard panel of commercially available antibodies. Methods - Archival material was obtained from 30 cases of childhood B urkitt's lymphoma registered with the West Midlands Regional Children' s Tumour Research Group. These were analysed by a standard avidin biot in complex immunoperoxidase method using antibodies to CD45, CD43, CD3 0, CD20, CD15, and immunoglobulin heavy and Light chains. Results - Th ere was a high incidence of the CD45RB and CD20 immunophenotypes, with a clearly recognisable B cell Lineage even in archival material. IgM was identifiable in 13 of the 23 (56.5%) cases tested. Only three of 1 7 (18%) cases expressed CD30. Positive membrane staining with CD45RO w as observed in two (6.7%) cases. Conclusions - A B cell lineage can be identified in Burkitt's lymphoma in formalin fixed, paraffin wax embe dded Oncology material, even in archival tissue. There was a low incid ence of membrane staining with CD45RO which is a potential source of d iagnostic confusion.