Assessment of an anti-T-cell receptor variable region antibody panel in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Using a panel of seven commercially available monoclonal antibodies directed against specific sites of the T-cell receptor variable region, we have studied the staining patterns in 15 biopsies from 11 patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), and in five patients with benign lymphocytic infiltrates. Eight of the 11 patients with CTCL showed staining of the majority of lymphocytes with either V beta 8 alone (n = 3), V beta 12 alone (n = 2) or with both V beta 8 and V beta 12 (n = 3). None of the biopsies from patients with benign dermatoses showed staining of the majority of lymphocytes with any of the antibodies.