Expression of adhesion molecules in pagetoid reticulosis

Cell adhesion molecules play a critical role in lymphocyte migration and homing. They convey tissue-specific homing properties to lymphocyte subsets and regulate the positioning of these subsets in the body. In a patient with pagetoid reticulosis, a rare form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma characterized by extreme epitheliotropism, we examined the expression of adhesion molecules. The neoplastic T lymphocytes showed a strong expression of cutaneous lymphocyte antigen, a skinhoming receptor which interacts with E-selectin on skin endothelium. ab7, an adhesion molecule interacting with E-cadherin on epithelial cells, was also expressed on tumour cells. These findings suggest that adhesion molecules are responsible for the unique growth pattern in pagetoid reticulosis, and for the clinical behaviour of the disorder.