Flow cytometry (FC) is a popular method to detect bone marrow (BM) involvement in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). The majority of screen panels of FC still rely on finding monoclonal B-cells, ., B-cells with immunoglobin (Ig) light-chain restriction, which has many limitations. Therefore, exploring new markers is warranted. | Wang et al. BMC Cancer 2021 21 1315 https s12885-021-09061-3 RESEARCH Open Access Aberrant expression of CD54 detected by flow cytometry is a characteristic of B-lymphoma cells in bone marrow specimens Wei Wang1 Yan Li2 Haval Ali1 Linjun Zhao3 Di Mei3 Wenqing Hu2 and Bin Jiang2 Abstract Background Flow cytometry FC is a popular method to detect bone marrow BM involvement in patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma B-NHL . The majority of screen panels of FC still rely on finding monoclonal B-cells . B-cells with immunoglobin Ig light-chain restriction which has many limitations. Therefore exploring new mark- ers is warranted. Methods A total of 52 cases of B-NHL with BM involvement were collected. The median age was 60 years. Out of these 52 cases 34 were male and 18 were female. A 10-color FC panel was used to detect the expression of CD54 on lymphoma cells. The expression of CD54 was calculated as the mean fluorescence index ratio MFIR and was described as the mean standard error of the mean SEM . Results Up to 18 52 of BM specimens abnormally expressed an increased level of CD54 including 1 10 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia small lymphocytic lymphoma CLL SLL 9 13 cases of mantle cell lymphoma MCL 2 14 cases of follicular lymphoma FL 5 9 cases of marginal zone lymphoma MZL and 1 3 cases of high- grade B-NHL HG B-NHL . The expression level of CD54 was significantly increased in MCL cases com- pared with CLL SLL cases and FL cases . The lowest percentage of CD54-positive B-cells attained . In 5 9 cases of MZL and 1 3 cases of HG B-NHL increased expression of CD54 was the only abnormal immunophenotype detected besides Ig light-chain restriction. No aberrant CD54 expression was identified by FC in lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma LPL 0 2 and Burkitt lymphoma BL 0 1 cases. Aberrant expression of CD54 was not related to plasma cell differentiation. Conclusion Lymphoma cells especially in MCL and MZL .
