Frequency and extent of CD30 expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and its relation to clinical and biologic factors: a retrospective study of 167 cases

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that CD30 may be expressed in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). However, the prevalence of CD30 + DLBCLs and extent of CD30 expression within an individual tumor have not been fully evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and extent of CD30 expression in DLBCLs, and explore possible relationships between CD30 expression and clinical and biologic variables. We retrospectively identified and analyzed 167 cases of CD30 + DLBCLs from our pathology archive. Twenty-one percent (95% confidence interval [CI]: 14.8-27.1%) of these cases expressed CD30, and in 52% of them CD30 was positive in > 80% of tumor cells. CD30 expression was more frequent in DLBCLs with non-germinal center origin phenotype, BCL2 + DLBCLs and in patients ≤ 47 years old. There was significant interaction of BCL2 expression with age and subtype of DLBCL. A multivariate analysis performed in BCL2 + DLBCLs showed a higher frequency of CD30 + cases in non-germinal center DLBCLs (odds ratio [OR]: 6.5, 95% CI: 1.1-36.5) and in patients ≤ 47 years old (OR: 6.9, 95% CI: 1.5-29.5). These associations could suggest a common biologic pathogenesis. The effectiveness of anti-CD30 drugs in other lymphomas opens the possibility for their use in patients with CD30 + DLBCLs.

CD30 expression in de novo diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma: a population‐based study from British Columbia

“…Our findings are consistent with those of the International DLBCL Rituximab‐CHOP Consortium Program Study, who found that 14% of 903 cases of de novo DLBCL in TMA exhibited CD30 expression in 20% or more tumour cells (Hu et al , ); and The Cleveland Clinic, who reported that 10% of 94 de novo DLBCL cases in TMA contained 20% or more CD30+ tumour cells (Hill et al , ). These findings differ from the study by Campuzano‐Zuluaga et al (), who found that 21% of de novo DLBCL cases contained 20% or more CD30+ tumour cells. This could be due to variations in study design and patient selection and might reflect differences in underlying tumour biology.…”

Brentuximab vedotin demonstrates objective responses in a phase 2 study of relapsed/refractory DLBCL with variable CD30 expression

“…32 Assessing responses to brentuximab vedotin by cell of origin of DLBCL would be an interesting exploratory analysis, although CD30 expression does not clearly correspond to the GCB or the ABC subtype of DLBCL. [15][16][17][18] Other limitations of this study are the lack of a comparator arm, absence of central review of response, and lack of analysis of response by other potentially important prognostic markers, such as Bcl-2 or c-Myc. We also cannot exclude the possibility that relapsed CD30…”

“…[8][9][10][11][12] CD30 is expressed in a variety of malignancies 13,14 and is present in 14% to 25% of DLBCL patients, depending on the cutoff used to assign positivity. [15][16][17] Hu et al reported a unique gene expression profile for de novo DLBCL expressing CD30 in greater than 20% of cells. 15 Although this study suggested that CD30 expression imparts a more favorable prognosis with first-line R-CHOP therapy, other studies have not universally confirmed this finding and the prognostic implications of CD30 expression at relapse are unclear.…”

CD30 expression and its correlation with MYC and BCL2 in de novo diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

“…Unfortunately, they did not mention the status of MYC and BCL2 expression. However, Campuzano-Zuluaga et al13 and Hao X et al15 argued that CD30 expression was positively associated with BCL2 expression and inferior outcome. Some patients with EBV+ DLBCL were mixed in their cohort.…”