CD30 EXPRESSION IN NORMAL AND NEOPLASTIC LYMPHOID-TISSUE - BIOLOGICALASPECTS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

CD30 expression is found on Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells, anaplast ic large cell lymphoma cells and on activated B or T lymphocytes. Rece ntly CD30 was shown to be a transmembrane receptor that is significant ly homologous to the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family. Lig ands for most members of this family, including CD30, have now been id entified. This review summarizes the role of the different TNFR family members in lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation in an attempt to understand more clearly the role of CD30 expression in the pathoge nesis and clinical behavior of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. We state that CD30 expression is of prognostic relevance in primary cutaneous and no dal T cell lymphomas in contrast to the absence of clinical relevance of CD30 expression in B cell lymphomas.