Low B-cell content is associated with a CD73-low tumour microenvironment and unfavourable prognosis in classic Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

B-cell content in the tumour microenvironment (TME) of classic Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is known to be associated with prognosis. Here we demonstrate that whole slide image analysis using routinely available slides predicts outcomes in patients treated with ABVD in a prospective trial with a high B-cell content being associated with a favourable prognosis. B cells in the TME did not correlate with B cells in peripheral blood. In the TME maturation, stages of B cells (naive and memory) were consistent. However, we detected down-regulation of CD73 in HL with low B cells suggestive of an antibody-independent function of B cells in the TME of HL.