CD10 expression is considered as a marker of centrofollicular-derived diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). The aim of our study was to determine retrospectively among 98 patients with DLBCL, enrolled in the LNH93 trial of the Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (GELA) and homogeneously treated with high-dose cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP)-like regimen [doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vindesine, bleomycin and prednisone (ACVBP)], the expression of CD10 using immunohistochemistry and its correlation with morphological features and clinical parameters. Of the 98 patients studied, 33 (34%) expressed CD10. There was no correlation among clinical parameters, International Prognostic Index risk groups and CD10 expression, with the exception of lactic dehydrogenase levels, which were lower in CD10-negative cases (P=0.005). There was no significant correlation between CD10 expression and morphological subtyping of DLBCL. Indeed, centrofollicular-derived DLBCL may present with numerous immunoblasts or as an immunoblastic lymphoma. Overall survival rate and event-free survival were not significantly different according to CD10 expression (P=0.44 and P=0.34 respectively). Therefore, it appears that CD10 expression does not influence survival or event-free survival in DLBCL.