Malignant lymphomas: cell surface markers and advances in classification.

Identification of cell surface markers permits detailed analysis and classification of the cells involved in the immune response. Application of these techniques to the study of malignant lymphomas has led to our understanding of these tumors as neoplasms of specific elements of the immune system. This approach, which emphasizes functional characteristics of the neoplastic cells, promises to revolutionize the diagnosis and classification of the lymphomas and replace classifications based solely on morphology.