Exploring of the prognostic value of eight immunohistochemical markers expressed in the tumor microenvironment and on Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg cells in pediatric patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Immunohistochemical markers are associated with treatment outcome in adults with classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL). Studies in children are scarce and inconsistent. We investigated in 67 children with cHL, whether the expression of CD15, CD30, PAX5, PD-1, PD-L1, CD68, CD163 and TARC is associated with the event-free survival (EFS) and the interim remission status. Low expression of PD-L1 was significantly associated with complete remission at interim PET-scan. There was no association between marker expression and EFS. Our data suggest a difference between pediatric and adult cHL. This underlies the importance of future research into specific molecular drivers in pediatric cHL.