Heterogeneous Surface CD79b Expression in Aggressive B-Cell Lymphomas Assessed by Flow Cytometry on Lymph Node Biopsies

Background: CD79b is a B-cell-specific antigen that is crucial to the B-cell receptor and is considered a key target for treatment in aggressive B-cell lymphomas. Methods: While immunohistochemical studies have shown widespread expression of CD79b in mature B-cell-derived lymphomas, flow cytometry allows for precise measurement and differentiation between surface and intracellular localization. Results: In our comparative analysis, we discovered that CD79b expression percentages and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) were lower in a group of 127 cases of aggressive B-cell lymphomas compared to a control group of benign reactive hyperplasia. We also observed significant variability in the surface expression of CD79b among lymphoma cases, with 18% showing predominantly intracellular positivity. There was a strong correlation between the surface expression of CD79b and clonal light chains. Notably, primary mediastinal B-cell lymphomas exhibited significantly lower surface CD79b expression compared to other lymphoma subtypes (median 0.8% IQR 0–48.5 vs. 80% IQR 24–97, p = 0.0005). Furthermore, patients over 60 years old and those with a higher Revised International Prognostic Index (R-IPI) had significantly higher CD79b expression, both of which are associated with a significant benefit from adding an anti-CD79b drug conjugate to first-line chemotherapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. Conclusions: In conclusion, the quantitative flow cytometric analysis of CD79b surface expression in aggressive B-cell lymphomas provides clinically relevant information, highlighting its potential usefulness in guiding therapeutic decisions.