Parallel examination of receptors of malignant lymphoma cells using combined tests with mouse erythrocytes and monoclonal VIB-C5 antibody or polyvalent serum against human immunoglobulins.

This report presents the results of studies on two membrane markers of lymphocytes isolated from patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The combined methods were applied allowing for a simultaneous testing of: a) presence of the membrane receptor for mouse erythrocytes (Em) and membrane immunoglobulins (SmIg) or b) presence of the receptor for mouse erythrocytes and antigen binding monoclonal VIB-C5 antibody (VIB). In 12 patients with the low grade malignant lymphoma, up to 50% of lymphocytes possessed both receptor for mouse erythrocytes as well as membrane immunoglobulins and higher frequency of occurrence of Em+ cells were associated mainly with a high percentage of SmIg-- cells. In 9 patients with low grade malignant lymphoma, 24% of cells were observed to possess Em receptor and antigen detectable with VIB antibody, 34-70% of cells were Em-VIB-lymphocytes and 13-54% were Em-VIB+ cells. The results obtained have revealed that the application of monoclonal antibody renders possible the diagnosis of lymphoma and may be of particular value in the cases with weak expression of receptor for mouse erythrocytes.