Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma - Characterization by Monoclonal Antibodies of Skin-Infiltrating Cells in Sézary's Syndrome

A 52-year-old patient affected by Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma/ Sezary Syndrome was studied from the clinical, histological, immunohistological and immunohaematological point of view. Immunohistochemical investigations showed a cutaneous infiltrate mainly consisting of Leu 1+ and Leu 4+ lymphocytes, with Leu 1+ phenotype prevalence. Infiltrate T-lymphocytes were then tested in order to identify their subsets phenotypes. In fact Leu 3ab+ cells were numerically better represented than Leu 2a+ cells. The major histocompatibility complex was well evidenced on dendritic cells, macrophages and fibroblasts. It was absent lymphomatose cells. The Langerhans cells were numerous and had a well-represented dendritic component within Malpighi’s layer; in papil- lar derma they were clustered close to blood vessels. Ki-1 antigen does not appear on the infiltrate cells. The absence of Ki-1, IL-2, HLA-DR activation markers let us guess an absence of activated reactive lymphocytes infiltrate; besides that, the absence of Killer/Natural Killer and the moderate representativity of mononuclear phagocytes demonstrate that there is no significant reactive response to neoplastic process.