Immunologic subsets in B cell lymphomas defined by surface immunoglobulin isotype and complement receptor--their relationship to survival.

Cell surface marker profiles were studied on cell suspensions from monoclonal B cell lymphomas. Surface immunoglobulin (sIg) was examined in 178 cases, whereas combined data with sIg and receptors for complement (C3) were available in 99/178 cases. The results showed that B cell lymphomas can be divided into distinct immunological subsets according to surface marker expression. Whereas some histologic subgroups (diffuse centroblastic/centrocytic, centrocytic, immunocytoma) (Kiel classification) consisted of few immunological subtypes, others were more heterogeneous (follicular centroblastic/centrocytic, centroblastic, lymphocytic). By combining immunological and histological subgroups, more than 40 phenotypes could be identified; this diversity most likely reflects, the heterogeneity of the B cell compartment. As part of the same study the prognostic significance of cell marker phenotypes was examined. Survival analysis undertaken on 149/178 patients did not uncover any significant relationship between type of heavy or light chain expression, C3 receptor expression and clinical outcome. Our data do not confirm recent findings that the type of immunological phenotype may be of prognostic significance.