Diagnosis of T-cell lymphoma using beta F1, anti-T-cell receptor beta chain antibody

The reactivity of a new monoclonal antibody to the T-cell beta chain antigen receptor (beta F1) with routinely processed paraffin sections from patients with T-cell lymphoma is described. Staining of tumour cells was seen in 36/47 cases of T-cell lymphoma. No staining was seen in any cases of B-cell lymphoma (0/21 cases), nine of which had previously been shown to react with other T-cell antibodies (MT1/UCHL1). We conclude that beta F1 is a specific marker for demonstrating a T-cell histogenesis of lymphoma and with advantages over other currently available antibodies reactive with paraffin sections.