Peripheral T cell lymphomas: an immunological study of seven unusual cases

A multiparameter study of malignant lymph node cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes of seven patients with peripheral T cell lymphoma is presented. The results of monoclonal marker studies showed three cases of helper-suppressor T cell lymphoma (OKT4+, OKT8+), one case of suppressor T cell lymphoma (OKT8+), and three cases of helper T cell lymphoma (OKT4+). Immunophenotypic heterogeneity of neoplastic T cells with expression of pan-T antigens, OKT3+, and OKT11+ (erythrocyte rosetting+) was observed in most patients. Six of the seven cases tested showed Ia and DR antigens. No relationship was detected between patterns of reactivity with T cell reagents and histological types. When tested, the in-vitro malignant T cells of five patients proliferated in response to concanavalin A (Con A), but had poor response to phytohaemagglutinin. The interleukin 2 receptors showed maximum expression on Con A-activated T cells of five patients, and phytohaemagglutinin-activated T cells of one patient. The neoplastic T cells (OKT4+, OKT8+) of one patient studied had suppressor activity for IgG and IgA, and helper activity for IgM synthesis on pokeweed mitogen-induced normal B cell differentiations.