B-lymphocyte antigen CD20 and Leukocyte surface antigen CD47 (CD20/CD47)

CD20+/CD47+ B-cell lymphoma cells are malignant B-lymphocytes characterized by the simultaneous expression of the B-cell lineage marker CD20 and the immune-evasive "don't eat me" signal CD47. CD20 (MS4A1) is a 33-37 kDa non-glycosylated phosphoprotein that plays a role in B-cell development and calcium channel modulation, serving as a classic target for monoclonal antibodies like rituximab (UniProt P11836). CD47 is a transmembrane protein that acts as a ligand for Signal Regulatory Protein Alpha (SIRPα) on macrophages, delivering an inhibitory signal that prevents phagocytosis (UniProt Q08722). In B-cell lymphomas, the overexpression of CD47 allows tumor cells to evade innate immune surveillance even in the presence of pro-phagocytic signals. Therapeutic strategies targeting these cells, such as bispecific antibodies (e.g., IMM0306, TG-1801), leverage CD20 for tissue specificity while blocking CD47 to restore macrophage-mediated tumor clearance. This dual-targeting approach aims to maximize anti-tumor efficacy through enhanced antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) while minimizing systemic toxicity, such as hemagglutination or anemia, by preferentially targeting cells that express both markers.

Other names

CD20+ CD47+ B-cell lymphomaCD20-positive CD47-positive B-NHLCD20 and CD47 co-expressing malignant B-cells

Simultaneous binding to CD20 and CD47 on the surface of B-cell lymphoma cells. CD20 binding provides specificity for the B-cell lineage, while CD47 blockade disrupts the inhibitory CD47-SIRPα interaction with macrophages. This dual engagement promotes antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by neutralizing the "don't eat me" signal and recruiting immune effector cells to the tumor site.