Flow fluorimetry in differential diagnosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Aim. To analyse immunophenotype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with flow cytometry. Material and methods. Combinations of antibodies against the following antigens were used: CD3/CD19/CD45, CD5/CD19/CD38, CD19/CD10/CD23, CD4/CD8/CD3, cappa/lambda/CD19, CD25/CD20/FMC7; CD43/CD22/CD20; CD79a/Ki-67/CD3; cytoplasmic cappa/lambda. The analysis was made on flow fluorimeter FacsCalibur using computer program CellQuest (Beckton Dickenson, USA). Results. Specific coexpression of markers is not detectable in DLBCL, in the greatest degree the phenotype corresponds to lymphoma from the cells of the marginal zone. The study of cells with maximal direct light diffusion provides more precise assessment of clonality and proliferative potential of tumor cells than the analysis of the whole lymphocytic polygon. The proliferative index in 33 cases of DLBCL varied in the range 10-60%. Conclusion. Flow cytometry in most DLBCL cases allows identification of B-cell clonality, more precise assessment of a proliferative potential of the tumor.