CD57

Synonyms: LEU7, HNK1 (human natural killer-1)

by Assia Bassarova

Background

It is an epitope on the cell surface proteins with cell adhesion functions created by the enzyme encoded on chromosome 11q25 by B3GAT1 gene.

Staining in normal tissues

10-20 % of all circulating lymphoid cells in adults (a subset of NK cells including CD3 negative large granular lymphocytes, a subset of CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes). In the tissues these are often localized in germinal centers. Neuroectodermal tissue, Schwann`s cells, CNS, benign prostate epithelium, pancreatic islets, adrenal medulla, gastric chief cells, proximal tubules of kidney and striated muscle cells are also positive.

Staining in tumors

Neuroectodermal tumors, small cell lung carcinoma (50%), prostate adenocarcinoma (98%), metanephric adenoma (97%), carcinoid tumors (85%), papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas (high however varying percentage usually higher for papillary carcinoma than follicular tumors and usually less frequent in medullary carcinomas), spindle cell thymomas, mesotheliomas (>50%), some T-cell lymphomas (10%-20% of extranodal NK/T cell of nasal type, 80% of LGL). Among adenocarcinomas a varying percentage of positive staining is seen including breast carcinoma (<40%) and clear cell carcinomas of kidney (<10%). Squamous cell carcinomas are negative as a rule. CD57+ cells are present in the background and surround also L&H cells in nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL). Positive staining of soft tissue tumor supports the nerve sheath origin, but is also reported in some cases of synovial sarcomas and leiomyosarcomas.

Staining pattern

Staining pattern is membranous.

Control tissue

Lymphoid tissue of tonsil.

Application

  • Quite sensitive but not specific marker in the number of solid tumors of neuroendocrine, neural, epithelial and mesenchymal origin. May be useful (if other markers fail) in panel for confirmation of origin of adenocarcinoma (prostate >90% positive) vs. rectal adenocarcinoma (negative) and urothelial carcinoma (<20% positive).
  • Lymphoma: positive identification of common type of T-cell Large Granular Lymphocyte Leukemia (CD3+/CD8+) and rosette forming lymphocytes in Nodular Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma (~50%).
  • Identification of CD57+ infiltrating tumor lymphocytes (prognostic factor in a number of solid tumors).
  • Most commonly used in panel with other markers for identification of neural and neuroendocrine tumors as well as some proliferations of NK cells.

Selected references

  1. Chandan VS1, Faquin WC, Wilbur DC, et al. The role of immunolocalization of CD57 and GLUT-1 in cell blocks in fine-needle aspiration diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Cancer. 2006 Oct 25;108(5):331-6.
  2. Genega EM1, Hutchinson B, Reuter VE, et al. Immunophenotype of high-grade prostatic adenocarcinoma and urothelial carcinoma.  Mod Pathol. 2000 Nov;13(11):1186-91.
  3. Guoming Hu and Shimin Wang. Prognostic role of tumor-infiltrating CD57-positive lymphocytes in solid tumors: a meta-analysis.  Oncotarget. 2018 Jan 30; 9(8): 8111–8119. Published online 2017 Dec 22. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.23621. PMCID: PMC5814286. PMID: 29487719
  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B3GAT1
  5. https://omim.org/entry/151290
  6. Pernick N. CD57. PathologyOutlines.com website. https://www.pathologyoutlines.com/topic/cdmarkerscd57.html. Accessed June 6th, 2020.