Am J Clin Pathol. 2003 Nov;120(5):767-77

The B-cell transcription factors BSAP, Oct-2, and BOB.1 and the pan-B-cell markers CD20, CD22, and CD79a are useful in the differential diagnosis of classic Hodgkin lymphoma.
Browne P, Petrosyan K, Hernandez A, Chan JA.
Dept of Pathology, IMPATH, 5300 McConnell Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90066, USA.

Even with routine immunohistochemical evaluation, distinguishing classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) can be difficult. In these cases, the transcription factors (B cell-specific activator protein [BSAP], octamer-binding transcription factor 2 [Oct-2], and B-cell Oct-binding protein 1 [BOB.1]) and the pan-B-cell markers (CD20, CD22, and CD79a) may aid in clarifying the diagnosis. In 57 cases of CHL, 5 cases of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL), and 33 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (25 DLBCL and 8 ALCL) we found the transcription factor phenotype BSAP+ and either Oct-2- or BOB.1- to be predictive of CHL; BSAP+/Oct-2+/BOB.1+ was predictive of NLPHL or DLBCL, while BSAP- was predictive of ALCL. Expression of all 3 pan-B-cell markers was seen only in NLPHL and DLBCL; positivity for a single B-cell marker was present only in CHL. Thus, together, the transcription factors and pan-B-cell markers might be useful in the differential diagnosis of CHL.

PMID: 14608905 [PubMed - in process]