What is CD10?

Reviewed by Pathologists on:
December 31, 2025

CD10 is a protein found on the surface of specific normal cells in the body. In pathology, CD10 is an immunohistochemical marker, meaning it can be highlighted in tissue samples using a specialized laboratory stain. Pathologists use CD10 to identify which cell types are present in a biopsy and to better classify diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, and some solid tumours.

Where is CD10 normally found?

In healthy tissue, CD10 is expressed on a wide range of normal cells, which is why results must always be interpreted carefully.

CD10 is commonly found in:

  • Blood and immune system cells, including early B cells, germinal center B cells, some T cells (especially T follicular helper cells), and mature granulocytes.

  • Kidney tissue, particularly along the tiny finger-like projections (microvilli) of kidney tubules.

  • Endometrial stroma, which is the supportive tissue of the uterus.

  • Myoepithelial cells in the breast, which form a layer around ducts and glands.

  • Liver bile canaliculi, adrenal cortex, prostate cells, placental tissue, and parts of the small intestine.

Because CD10 is normally present in many tissues, it is rarely used alone to make a diagnosis.

What kinds of medical conditions are associated with CD10?

CD10 can be expressed in a wide variety of diseases. Some of the most important associations include:

  • Leukemia and lymphoma, especially:

    • B lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma.

    • Follicular lymphoma.

    • Burkitt lymphoma.

    • Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

    • Certain T cell lymphomas, derived from T follicular helper cells, such as angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma.

  • Kidney cancers, particularly clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

  • Gynecologic conditions, such as endometrial stromal tumors and endometriosis.

  • Pancreatic tumors, including solid pseudopapillary neoplasm.

  • Liver cancer, where a specific staining pattern can support a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

  • Skin and soft tissue tumors, where CD10 may help distinguish between tumors that can look similar under the microscope.

CD10 may also be present in the supporting tissue (stroma) around some cancers, which can have prognostic significance in specific settings, such as breast cancer.

How do pathologists use CD10?

Pathologists use CD10 as part of a panel of markers, not as a single test. Its primary roles include:

  • Helping determine the type and maturity of leukemia cells, especially in childhood B lymphoblastic leukemia.

  • Identifying whether a lymphoma comes from germinal center cells, which is important for classification and sometimes prognosis.

  • Distinguishing between tumors that appear similar but arise from different tissues, such as kidney cancer versus metastatic tumors from other organs.

  • Supporting the diagnosis of specific tumors, such as solid pseudopapillary neoplasm of the pancreas or endometrial stromal tumors.

Because CD10 is found in many normal and abnormal tissues, results must always be interpreted in the context of tissue appearance and other test results.

How do pathologists test for CD10?

CD10 is tested using immunohistochemistry. In this test:

  • A thin slice of tissue is placed on a glass slide.

  • A special antibody that attaches to CD10 is applied.

  • If CD10 is present, the cells develop a visible stain that can be seen under the microscope.

This test does not measure the amount of CD10 in the blood. It only shows whether CD10 is present in the sampled tissue and where it is located within the cells.

How will the results be described in your pathology report?

CD10 results are usually reported as positive or negative, sometimes with a description of the staining pattern. Important patterns include:

  • Cell membrane staining, which is the classic appearance in many leukemias and lymphomas.

  • Canalicular staining in liver tumors, which can help support hepatocellular carcinoma.

  • Cytoplasmic or mixed staining, which may be seen in some poorly differentiated cancers and soft tissue tumors.

  • Stromal staining, meaning CD10 is present in the supportive tissue around tumor cells rather than in the tumor cells themselves.

Your report may also describe whether staining is strong or weak and whether it involves most or only some cells, as these details can help refine the diagnosis.

How does CD10 fit with other markers?

CD10 is almost always interpreted alongside other immunohistochemical markers. Examples include:

  • In B lymphoblastic leukemia, CD10 is evaluated with markers such as CD19, CD79a, and TdT to determine the stage of cell development.

  • In diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, CD10 is used with BCL6 and MUM1 to classify tumors as germinal center or non-germinal center subtypes.

  • In follicular lymphoma, CD10 is typically combined with CD20, BCL2, and BCL6.

  • In T cell lymphomas of the T follicular helper cell type, CD10 is interpreted in conjunction with markers such as PD1, ICOS, CXCL13, and BCL6.

  • In kidney tumors, CD10 is often used alongside markers like PAX8, CAIX, and CK7 to help determine tumor type.

Looking at CD10 together with these markers gives a much more accurate and reliable diagnosis than any single test alone.

Questions to ask your doctor

  • Why was CD10 tested in my biopsy?

  • Was CD10 positive or negative, and in which cells?

  • How do my CD10 results fit with the other markers that were tested?

  • Does CD10 help confirm the diagnosis or rule out other conditions?

  • Do these results have any impact on prognosis or follow-up testing?

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