Immunophenotyping of hematologic neoplasms in paraffin-embedded tissue sections

Abstract

Several immunohistochemical methods are now available for the staining of neoplastic cells in tissue sections. The authors have found that the alkaline phosphatase-anti-alkaline phosphatase (APAAP) method is sensitive and reliable. Murine monoclonal or nonmurine polyclonal antibodies can be used to label a variety of membranous and/or cellular constituents in tissues that have been routinely processed in a histopathology laboratory. The monoclonal antibody against leukocyte common antigen (CD45) can be used to differentiate hematologic from nonhematologic tumors. Monoclonal antibodies (L26, LN1, LN2, LN3, MB1, MB2) label B-cell lymphomas, whereas other monoclonal antibodies (UCHL1, MT1) more characteristically stain T-cell lymphomas. Polyclonal antibodies against CD3 specifically mark neoplastic cells from T-cell lymphomas and leukemias but as yet are not commercially available. Monoclonal antibodies Leu-M1 (CD15), Ber H2 (Ki-1; CD30), and LN2 label Reed-Sternberg cells from most cases of nodular sclerosis, mixed cellularity, and lymphocyte-depleted Hodgkin's disease. Monoclonal antibodies Mac 387, KP1 (CD68), and NP57 (antielastase), as well as polyclonal antibodies against lysozyme, help identify subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia and extramedullary myeloid cell tumors. Although there are now excellent reagents ready for use, there is still a significant need for more lineage-specific (particularly against CD epitopes) monoclonal antibodies capable of labeling neoplastic cells in paraffin-embedded tissue sections from patients with hematologic malignancies.