Abstract
Cluster designation (CD) 20 antigen is expressed on most B-cell lymphomas and serves as a therapeutic target for rituximab. A small minority of aggressive B-cell lymphomas, predominantly plasmablastic variants, do not express CD 20. We systematically reviewed all cases of aggressive B-cell lymphomas diagnosed at our institution over a period of 13 years. Of the 232 cases, 7 did not express CD 20. Five of these were plasmablastic lymphomas while two were unclassifiable B-cell lymphomas. While most of the plasmablastic lymphomas responded to chemotherapy, patients with unclassifiable lymphomas were primarily refractory or relapsed soon after chemotherapy.
Highlights
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common histological subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in adults [1]. e addition of rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody, to standard chemotherapy represents the most signi cant advance in the therapy of DLBCL over the last decade [2, 3]
A small minority of DLBCL do not express Cluster designation (CD) 20. Most of these are reported to be plasmablastic variants of DLBCL and have been reported to have worse outcomes compared to other DLBCL [5,6,7]
We systematically reviewed the clinical and pathological features of all CD 20 negative DLBCL lymphoma patients diagnosed at our institution over the last 13 years
Summary
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common histological subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in adults [1]. e addition of rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody, to standard chemotherapy represents the most signi cant advance in the therapy of DLBCL over the last decade [2, 3]. Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common histological subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in adults [1]. Identi cation of CD 20 expression aids in identifying the lymphoma as being of B-cell origin and in being potentially susceptible to rituximab. A small minority of DLBCL do not express CD 20. Most of these are reported to be plasmablastic variants of DLBCL (primary effusion lymphomas, Anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive large B-cell lymphoma, and human immunode ciency-virus associated plasmablastic lymphoma) and have been reported to have worse outcomes compared to other DLBCL [5,6,7]. We systematically reviewed the clinical and pathological features of all CD 20 negative DLBCL lymphoma patients diagnosed at our institution over the last 13 years
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