Immunologic markers in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

The majority of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs) are of B-cell lineage, with less than 20% of cases being of T-cell lineage. The B-cell NHLs phenotypically correspond to normal cells in the mid stages of normal differentiation. More specifically, by their expression of B-cell activation antigens, these tumors are the neoplastic counterparts of normal activated B cells. The follicular lymphomas--including the small cleaved, mixed small and large cell, and large cell types, as well as the small noncleaved cell (Burkitt's) lymphomas--represent malignant expansions of normal germinal center B cells by their expression of pan-B cell antigens, B-cell activation antigens, and CD10 (CALLA). The diffuse lymphomas also correspond to normal activated B cells. The small lymphocytic lymphomas express the low-affinity IL-2 receptor and CD5, both of which are induced on normal B cells following mitogen stimulation. The other diffuse B-cell NHLs similarly express activation antigens and resemble "transformed" B cells. The T-cell NHLs generally correspond to normal activated CD4+ T cells. These tumors--which include most peripheral T-cell lymphomas, cutaneous T-cell lymphomas, and HTLV-I-associated adult T-cell leukemias/lymphomas--express antigens induced on activated T cells, including IL-2 and transferrin receptors (CD25 and CD71, respectively), as well as HLA-DR. The lymphoblastic lymphomas, which are generally of T-cell lineage, phenotypically correspond to stages of intrathymic differentiation, often by their coexpression of CD4 and CD8, as well as expression of CD1. It remains controversial whether the immunophenotype of lymphoblastic lymphoma differs significantly from T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Since immunologic heterogeneity of NHL was first observed, attempts have been made to employ the data as a prognostic variable. Early studies suggested that lineage derivation or expression of markers of proliferating cells affected outcome in NHL. However, these reports were often retrospective, included various histologies, and did not treat patients uniformly. More recent prospective studies with relatively uniformly treated patients, predominantly involving DLCL, suggest that certain immunologically defined subgroups may have significantly different clinical outcomes. However, additional clinical studies will be necessary before treatment options are based upon immunologic markers.