Flow Cytometric Analysis of CD200 Expression by Pulmonary Small Cell Carcinoma

Background: CD200 is a membrane bound glycoprotein that is expressed by a variety of normal tissues and hematopoietic malignancies. Flow cytometric analysis of CD200 expression has utility in the evaluation of mature B-cell neoplasms, myeloma, and acute leukemia; however, CD200 expression in nonhematopoietic malignancies has not been extensively studied.

Methods: We studied 14 cases of biopsy proven pulmonary small cell carcinoma in which a discrete CD45 negative, CD56 positive abnormal cell population was identified by flow cytometry. We retrospectively evaluated these cases for flow cytometric and immunohistochemical evidence of CD200 expression.

Results: Twelve of the 14 cases of pulmonary small cell carcinoma showed convincing expression of CD200 by both immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry.

Conclusions: Pulmonary small cell carcinoma frequently expresses CD200 at a level that can be detected by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. CD200 expression therefore may be used to help identify pulmonary small cell carcinoma in flow cytometry specimens and tissue sections. CD200 may also play a role in the biology of pulmonary small cell carcinoma and is a potential target of future therapies. © 2015 International Clinical Cytometry Society.