Ferreri AJ, Dognini GP, Verona C, Patriarca C, Doglioni C, Ponzoni M. Re-occurrence of the CD20 molecule expression subsequent to CD20-negative relapse in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Haematologica 2007;
92:e1-2. [PMID:
17405748 DOI:
10.3324/haematol.10255]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the first case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the stomach displaying CD20-negative relapse after rituximab-containing treatment and the re-appearance of CD20 expression at the second failure. The loss of CD20 expression in B-cell lymphomas relapsing after rituximab is a well-known phenomenon, but its actual impact in DLBCL is difficult to estimate. This paradigmatic case suggests that CD20-expression reappearance after purging of CD20-positive clones with rituximab might be an underestimated occurrence in B-cell lymphomas. Accordingly, every relapse, whenever possible, should be histologically assessed with diagnostic and immunophenotyping purposes.
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