Potential application and prevalence of the CD30 (Ki-1) antigen among solid tumors: A focus review of the literature

- CD30 is a cell membrane protein deriving from the TNF receptor family.
- CD30 has variable prevalence among solid tumors (primarily GCTs and mesothelioma).
- CD30 targeted therapy may be a candidate for treatment of CD30+ solid tumors.
- Early clinical data for CD30 targeted therapy against GCTs is promising.

BackgroundCD30 (Ki-1) is a cell membrane protein derived from the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family. The CD30 antigen has been associated primarily with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL). Brentuximab vedotin (BV) is an antibody-drug conjugate targeting the CD30 antigen. FDA approval for BV includes relapsed and refractory HL and sALCL. The CD30 antigen also has been identified in many solid tumors, predominantly of germ cell origins and early clinical data is promising.ObjectivePerform a focus literature review evaluating the prevalence of the CD30 antigen among nonlymphomatous tumors with a potential correlate for CD30 targeted therapy.Eligibility criteriaInclusion criteria: all retrospective reviews and case reports citing CD30 positivity or negativity in non-lymphomatous malignancies in which data were presented based on location. Exclusion criteria: studies with hematopoetic malignancies, cutaneous malignancies, non-human populations, and non-english publications.Included studiesA total of 119 articles met these criteria and are summarized in this manuscript.ConclusionThe CD30 antigen has shown variable prevalence among non-hematopoetic tumors, most notably among germ cell tumors and mesothelioma. With additional, preclinical and properly powered clinical studies, CD30 targeted therapy such as that of BV, alone or in combination with other agents may prove to be a strong candidate in the treatment of various CD30+ malignancies.