CUTANEOUS CD30- EXPRESSION OF BCL-2 AND PROTEINS OF THE TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR RECEPTOR SUPERFAMILY( LYMPHOPROLIFERATIVE DISORDERS )

The spectrum of CD30+ cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders is chara cterized by the histology of a high-grade lymphoma but frequent clinic al regression of skin lesions in lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) and occa sional regression in CD30+ large cell lymphomas (LCLs). A recent study shows that apoptosis may be a significant mechanism of regression of LyP (Arch Dermatol 133:828-833, 1997). Therefore, we studied expressio n of proteins that induce apoptosis, including CD27, CD40, CD95, and n erve grow th factor receptor (NGF-R), as well as anti-apoptotic protei n bcl-2 in skin lesions from 25 patients within the spectrum of CD30cutaneous lymphoma. Our results show consistent expression of CD95 (AP O-1/Fas), but rare or absent expression of CD27, CD40, and NGF-R on tu mor cells from both regressing LyP lesions and nonregressing CD30+ lym phomas. Bcl-9 was expressed at low levels in LyP and at high levels in pleomorphic CD30+ lymphomas. These results indicate that, in addition to CD30, CD95 expression is preferentially expressed at high levels i n all cutaneous CD30+ lymphomas and suggest that CD95 may play a role in the regression of CD30+ skin lesions. Expression of bcl-2 appears t o protect tumor cells from apoptosis in CD30+ lymphoproliferative diso rders. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.