IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF CDW52 ANTIGEN EXPRESSION IN NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMAS

Aim-To determine the antigen expression of CDw52 using Campath-1 antib odies in a series of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs). Methods-Tissue se ctions of lymphoma were stained immunohistochemic ally using rat Campa th-1G and humanised Campath-1H with avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex t echniques. Fifty-two fresh frozen lymphomas and a further 26 paraffin wax embedded sections were studied. Results-Thirty-seven out of 41 B c ell lymphomas were positive with Campath-1H in frozen sections (low gr ade, 24 of 24; high grade, 13 of 17) as were three out of five T cell lymphomas. Reed-Sternberg cells in six cases of Hodgkin's disease did not react. Eleven out of 16 high grade B cell lymphomas also stained p ositively with Campath-1G in paraffin wax sections as did five out of 10 T cell lymphomas. Conclusions-The Campath-1 antibodies showed that CDw52 antigen expression was present in all cases of low grade B cell NHL examined. Immunohistochemical staining in high grade B cell NHL an d in T cell MIL was variable. These findings may be relevant to patien t selection when considering treatment with Campath-1 antibodies.