B lymphocyte antigens in the differential diagnosis of human neoplasia

Human B lymphocyte antigens (HBLA) were detected with fluorescent-labeled antibodies on malignant cells of 102 patients with Hodgkin disease and other lymphomas, plasma cell myeloma, and nonlymphoreticular neoplasms including carcinomas of the breast, lung, and ovary, soft tissue sarcomas, and neuroblastoma. HBLA were present in Hodgkin disease and other lymphomas of B cell or histiocyte derivation. They were absent in plasma cell myeloma and nonlymphoreticular neoplasms. Absorption studies revealed that malignant T cells had smaller amounts of HBLA, usually not detected by immunofluorescence. Expression of HBLA was dependent on both cell differentiation and origin. Detection of HBLA enabled immunologic distinction of Reed-Sternberg and other lymphoma cells from morphologically similar cells of nonlymphoreticular origin. The rapidity, reproducibility, and economy of the immunofluorescence test make this a useful clinical tool for the differential diagnosis of lymphoma from other malignant disorders in man.