Roger Warnke

Abstract

Recent studies report an improvement in overall survival (OS) of patients with follicular lymphoma (FL). Previously untreated patients with grade 1-2 FL referred from 1960-2003 and treated at Stanford were identified. Four eras were considered: era 1, pre-anthracycline (1960-1975, n=180); era 2, anthracycline (1976-1986, n=426), era 3, aggressive chemotherapy/purine analogs (1987-1996, n=471) and era 4, rituximab (1997-2003, n=257). Clinical characteristics, patterns of care and survival outcomes were assessed. Observed OS was compared with the expected OS calculated from Berkeley Mortality Database life tables derived from population matched by gender and age at time of diagnosis. The median OS was 13.6 years. Age, gender and stage did not differ across the eras. Although primary treatment varied, event free survival after the first treatment did not differ between eras (p=0.17). Median OS improved from approximately 11 years in eras 1 and 2 to 18.4 years in era 3 and has not yet been reached for era 4 (p<0.001) with no suggestion of a plateau in any era. These improvements in OS exceeded improvements in survival in the general population during the same time period. Several factors, including better supportive care and effective therapies for relapsed disease, are likely responsible for this improvement.

View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2013-03-491514

View details for PubMedID 23777769

Abstract

In recent years, a new pathologic entity has emerged: indolent T-lymphoblastic proliferation (iT-LBP). iT-LBPs share immunophenotypic similarities with T-lymphoblastic lymphoma; however, T-lymphoblastic proliferations are clinically indolent, and unlike the malignant counterpart, these expansions of nonclonal terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)+ T cells do not require treatment. Here we review the clinical and pathologic features, which are required for an accurate diagnosis of an iT-LBP. We demonstrate specific criteria can be used to accurately diagnose iT-LBP, notably: (1) confluent groups of TdT+ T cells in a biopsy specimen, (2) relative preservation of surrounding normal lymphoid architecture, (3) TdT+ T cells without morphologic atypia, (4) absence of thymic epithelium, (5) nonclonal TdT+ T cells, (6) immunophenotype of developmentally normal immature thymic T cells, and (7) clinical evidence of indolence (follow-up >6 mo without progression).

View details for DOI 10.1097/PAP.0b013e31828d17ec

View details for Web of Science ID 000317588700001

View details for PubMedID 23574769

Abstract

Primary cutaneous gamma delta T-cell lymphoma is a rare diagnosis with only 40 reported cases. We describe a case of cutaneous gamma delta T-cell lymphoma with hemophagocytic syndrome and brain involvement that was not apparent morphologically on skin biopsy and was diagnosed as perifolliculitis and lobular panniculitis. The biopsy was sent later for molecular studies to the University of Washington, which demonstrated a T-cell clone. This case demonstrates that a T-cell clone may be present in a skin biopsy without morphologic or immunophenotypic evidence of lymphoma.

View details for DOI 10.1097/DAD.0b013e3182624e98

View details for Web of Science ID 000316941200026

View details for PubMedID 22863906

Abstract

To assess the efficacy of an abbreviated Stanford V regimen in patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). PATIENTS AND METHODS PATIENTS: with untreated nonbulky stage I-IIA supradiaphragmatic HL were eligible for the G4 study. Stanford V chemotherapy was administered for 8 weeks followed by radiation therapy (RT) 30 Gy to involved fields (IF). Freedom from progression (FFP), disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated.All 87 enrolled patients completed the abbreviated regimen. At a median follow-up of 10 years, FFP, DSS and OS are 94%, 99% and 94%, respectively. Therapy was well tolerated with no treatment-related deaths.Mature results of the abbreviated Stanford V regimen in nonbulky early-stage HL are excellent and comparable to the results from other contemporary therapies.

View details for DOI 10.1093/annonc/mds542

View details for Web of Science ID 000316701300027

View details for PubMedID 23136225

Abstract

Determining the immunophenotype of hematologic malignancies is now an indispensable part of diagnostic classification, and can help to guide therapy, or to predict clinical outcome. Diagnostic workup should be guided by morphologic findings and evaluate clinically important markers, but ideally should avoid the use of overly broad panels of immunostains that can reveal incidental findings of uncertain significance and give rise to increased costs. Here, we outline our approach to diagnosis of B-cell neoplasms, combining histologic and clinical data with tailored panels of immunophenotyping reagents, in the context of the 2008 World Health Organization classification. We present data from cases seen at our institution from 2004 through 2008 using this approach, to provide a practical reference for findings seen in daily diagnostic practice.

View details for DOI 10.1097/PAI.0b013e31825d550a

View details for Web of Science ID 000315464500004

View details for PubMedID 22820658

Abstract

T-lymphoblastic lymphoma is an aggressive neoplasm requiring prompt clinical treatment. Conversely, indolent T-lymphoblastic proliferation mimics T-lymphoblastic lymphoma but consists of a proliferation of non-neoplastic TdT+ T cells, requiring no treatment. Recently, we identified several cases of indolent T-lymphoblastic proliferations in extrathymic lymphoid tissues: 1 in a patient suffering from Castleman disease (CD) associated with a follicular dendritic cell sarcoma/tumor, 1 in a patient with a history of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), and 1 in association with acinic cell carcinoma. Interestingly, in the case of the patient with a history of AITL, these TdT+ T cells were seen in multiple anatomic sites over the span of 5 years. Here we review these 3 cases and extend our findings by demonstrating that TdT+ T-lymphoblastic populations are increased in lymph nodes of patients with CD (P=0.011), CD in association with follicular dendritic cell tumors, and AITL (P<0.01) compared with other T-cell or B-cell lymphomas or reactive lymph nodes. Finally, analysis of 352 nonhematolymphoid tumors including carcinomas, melanomas, and sarcomas demonstrates that TdT+ T cells are not increased in these tumors. Our studies not only present several detailed cases of indolent T-lymphoblastic proliferations, but also correlate these populations with specific hematologic diseases.

View details for DOI 10.1097/PAS.0b013e318264e223

View details for Web of Science ID 000310059600004

View details for PubMedID 23060347

Abstract

CD137 (also known as 4-1BB and TNFRSF9) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. Originally identified as a costimulatory molecule expressed by activated T cells and NK cells, CD137 is also expressed by follicular dendritic cells, monocytes, mast cells, granulocytes, and endothelial cells. Anti-CD137 immunotherapy has recently shown promise as a treatment for solid tumors and lymphoid malignancies in preclinical models. We defined the expression of CD137 protein in both normal and neoplastic hematolymphoid tissue. CD137 protein is expressed by follicular dendritic cells in the germinal center and scattered paracortical T cells, but not by normal germinal-center B cells, bone marrow progenitor cells, or maturing thymocytes. CD137 protein is expressed by a select group of hematolymphoid tumors, including classical Hodgkin lymphoma, T-cell and NK/T-cell lymphomas, and follicular dendritic cells neoplasms. CD137 is a novel diagnostic marker of these tumors and suggests a possible target for tumor-directed antibody therapy.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ajpath.2012.05.015

View details for Web of Science ID 000309251100009

View details for PubMedID 22901750

Abstract

A 19-year-old male patient presented with intermittent high fever and left cervical lymphadenopathy. The lymph node biopsy findings were interpreted as "Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoproliferative disorder consistent with infectious mononucleosis." No molecular studies were performed at that time. The patient was followed without treatment. Five months later, the patient again presented with fever, lymphadenopathy, and splenomegaly. The lymph node biopsy showed features of a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Molecular studies on this lymph node biopsy showed a clonal EBV population, although polymerase chain reaction studies failed to reveal a clonal B-cell or T-cell population. A concurrent bone marrow biopsy showed features consistent with hemophagocytic syndrome. He had elevated ferritin, soluble interleukin-2 receptors and persistent EBV viremia. The patient responded to Rituxan for a short period with undetectable EBV levels. Subsequent right cervical lymph node, liver, and jejunal biopsies showed involvement by diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and the patient expired soon thereafter.

View details for Web of Science ID 000303140100012

View details for PubMedID 22505014

Abstract

IgG4-related sclerosing disease has been described in the orbit and ocular adnexa. Of 164 biopsies of the ocular region for suspected lymphoma, we identified 6 cases of IgG4 disease, 4 of which were previously unrecognized. All 6 cases demonstrated increased plasma cells in a background of sclerosis and increased absolute numbers of IgG4-expressing cells. Our results confirm the difficulty in diagnosing IgG4-related sclerosing disease in the ocular region. Based on the findings, we suggest that specimens from biopsies of the eye and ocular adnexa for which a definitive diagnosis of lymphoma is not established undergo further workup for IgG and IgG4, particularly if increased plasma cells and sclerosis are present. When IgG4-expressing plasma cells account for greater than 50% of IgG-expressing plasma cells, a diagnosis of IgG4 disease should be considered. Timely recognition would benefit patients by allowing appropriate management with corticosteroid therapy and avoiding more aggressive or unnecessary therapeutic options.

View details for DOI 10.1309/AJCPE1G8DRHXRPIH

View details for Web of Science ID 000303141300002

View details for PubMedID 22523207

Abstract

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although, aberrant expression of a single T-cell-associated antigen (exclusive of CD5) on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma has occasionally been described in the literature, cases that show coexpression of ?2 T-cell antigens on a well-documented case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma are extremely rare. Here, we describe a well-characterized case of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma that showed aberrant coexpression of 2 T-cell-associated antigens, CD2 and CD7. Recognition of these types of cases is important to help ensure accurate diagnoses are made.

View details for DOI 10.1097/PAI.0b013e318221c672

View details for PubMedID 21836500

View details for DOI 10.1038/bmt.2010.340

View details for Web of Science ID 000298326500015

View details for PubMedID 21258419

Abstract

We studied the efficacy of 2 germinal center B-cell markers, HGAL and LMO2, in the separation of lymphomas derived from small B cells, particularly follicular lymphoma (FL) and marginal zone lymphoma occurring in nodal, extranodal, splenic, and bone marrow sites using immunohistochemical analysis for CD10, BCL6, BCL2, HGAL, and LMO2. Our results showed that HGAL and LMO2 are sensitive and specific markers for detecting FL in nodal and extranodal sites. In contrast, all markers were down-regulated in FL infiltrates in the bone marrow. CD10 and HGAL were expressed in a subset of FLs in the bone marrow and were highly correlated with each other and with CD21, a marker of follicular dendritic cells. We conclude that HGAL and LMO2 should be considered in immunohistochemical panels used for the routine workup of lymphomas derived from small B cells. In the bone marrow, staining for HGAL or CD10 can be helpful in making a diagnosis of FL, although they are absent in a subset of cases.

View details for DOI 10.1309/AJCP7Z2BIBUNQPLZ

View details for Web of Science ID 000289743400007

View details for PubMedID 21502424

Abstract

Systemic cases of the CD30-positive T-cell neoplasm, anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), are typically anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive. The failure to express ALK protein has been shown to portend a worse prognosis. We describe a case of ALK-negative systemic ALCL that presented as a violaceous plaque on the scalp of a 79-year-old man. Interestingly, the neoplastic cells were confined largely within vascular spaces, a configuration that is exceedingly rare in the skin and is more typically seen with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma. In addition, bcl-2 immunohistochemical staining was strongly positive in this case, which may portend a more aggressive clinical course. To our knowledge, this report represents the first case of an ALK-negative ALCL to present intravascularly in the skin. Therefore, the recognition of systemic anaplastic T-cell lymphoma present within the intravascular spaces is important to avoid misdiagnosis.

View details for DOI 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2010.01528.x

View details for Web of Science ID 000285754200009

View details for PubMedID 20236372

Abstract

Recent studies have exploited an antibody directed against programmed death 1 expressed by follicular helper T-cells in the diagnosis of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. We had previously described clinically relevant, variant immunoarchitectural patterns of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma and, in this study, sought to address the diagnostic utility of programmed death 1 in comparison with CD57 in variant nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. Immunohistologic staining for programmed death 1 was carried out on biopsies of 67 patients with variant nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. Thirty-four additional cases of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma with associated diffuse areas, de novo T-cell and histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma, and lymphocyte-rich classic Hodgkin lymphoma were also studied. Our results show that programmed death 1 positivity was found in the majority of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma cases with a classic nodular architecture (87%) as compared with 50% for CD57 and was particularly helpful in identifying extranodular large atypical cells. Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma with diffuse areas showed a gradual decrease in programmed death 1 reactivity from nodular to diffuse areas, although a significant proportion (40%-50%) of cases retained programmed death 1 positivity also in diffuse areas. In addition, T-cell and histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma and lymphocyte-rich classic Hodgkin lymphoma displayed programmed death 1 positivity in a significant subset of cases (33%-40%). In conclusion, our study supports the utility of programmed death 1 in the diagnosis of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma and shows greater sensitivity of staining of programmed death 1 as compared with CD57 across all variants of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. Loss of programmed death 1 reactivity did not correlate with diffuse areas, progression, or the ability to differentiate nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma from T-cell and histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma. These findings suggest the need for continued vigilance in the diagnosis of nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma and its immunoarchitectural variants as well as related lymphomas in their differential diagnosis.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.humpath.2010.05.010

View details for Web of Science ID 000284975800009

View details for PubMedID 20825974

Abstract

Follicular lymphoma (FL) can exhibit variant histologic patterns that can lead to confusion with other B-cell lymphomas and reactive conditions. Diagnostic markers such as CD10 and BCL2 may be difficult to interpret in variant FL patterns, and are often diminished or absent in the interfollicular and diffuse components. We evaluated 2 recently characterized germinal center B-cell markers, human germinal center associated lymphoma (HGAL), and LIM-only transcription factor 2 (LMO2), in 127 FL patient biopsies (94 nodal, 33 extranodal), and correlated the findings with histologic pattern, cellular composition, grade, and additional immunostains (CD20, CD3, CD21, CD10, BCL2, and BCL6). Architectural patterns included predominantly follicular (75%) and follicular and diffuse components (25%); 10 cases showed marginal zone differentiation and 3 were floral variants. Eighty-nine cases were low grade (38 grade 1; 51 grade 2) and 38 were grade 3 (29 grade 3A and 9 grade 3B). HGAL had the highest overall sensitivity of detecting FL and was superior in detecting the interfollicular and diffuse components compared with BCL2, LMO2, CD10, and BCL6. All 28 cases that lacked CD10, expressed HGAL, and the majority also expressed LMO2. Our results show that HGAL and LMO2 are sensitive markers for FL diagnosis. The addition of HGAL and LMO2 to the immunohistologic panel is beneficial in the work-up of nodal and extranodal B-cell lymphomas and the efficacy of HGAL in detecting the follicular, interfollicular and diffuse components of FL is of particular value in the setting of variant immunoarchitectural patterns.

View details for DOI 10.1097/PAS.0b013e3181e9343d

View details for Web of Science ID 000281579800005

View details for PubMedID 20697248

View details for DOI 10.3109/10428194.2010.486094

View details for Web of Science ID 000279485700026

View details for PubMedID 20496992

Abstract

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas are a heterogeneous group that often requires the use of ancillary testing for accurate diagnosis. This is particularly applicable to the diagnosis of angiommunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unclassified (PTCLU), because of their histologic and immunophenotypic overlap with reactive lymphoid proliferations. Recently, immunohistochemistry for programmed death-1 (PD-1), a marker of follicular helper T cells, was shown to be sensitive in the detection of AITL and PTCLU. The sensitivity of this marker in reactive entities, however, has not been adequately evaluated. We confirm that PD-1 staining is a highly sensitive marker in the diagnosis of peripheral T-cell lymphomas: increased extrafollicular PD-1-positive cells were seen in 93% (76/82) of AITL, 62% (16/26) of PTCLU, and 11% (2/18) of anaplastic-lymphoma-kinase (ALK)-negative anaplastic large-cell lymphomas. The majority of reactive lymphadenopathies including Cat-scratch disease, Kikuchi lymphadenitis, Castleman disease, and reactive follicular hyperplasia showed no PD-1 staining outside follicles. Some reactive lymph nodes, showed increased extrafollicular PD-1-positive cells in a pattern similar to AITL and PTCLU, and include progressive transformation of germinal centers, viral lymphadenitis (Epstein-Barr virusand human immunodeficiency virus) and Rosai-Dorfman disease. This study shows that PD-1-positive cells may be increased in a number of settings other than T-cell lymphomas. We conclude that staining for PD-1 in reactive and atypical lymphadenopathies should be interpreted with caution and in the context of other ancillary immunophenotypic and molecular studies before a diagnosis of AITL or PTCLU is entertained.

View details for Web of Science ID 000274219800005

View details for PubMedID 20087161

Abstract

Nodal marginal zone lymphoma (NMZL) represents a rare and heterogeneous group that lacks markers specific for the diagnosis. We evaluated morphologic and immunoarchitectural features of 51 NMZLs, and the following immunostains were performed: CD20, CD21, CD23, CD5, CD3, CD43, CD10, Ki-67, BCL1, BCL2, BCL6, HGAL, and LMO2. Four immunoarchitectural patterns were evident: diffuse (38 [75%]), well-formed nodular/follicular (5 [10%]), interfollicular (7 [14%]), and perifollicular (1 [2%]). Additional features included a monocytoid component (36 [71%]), admixed large cells (20 [39%]), plasma cells (24 [47%]), compartmentalizing stromal sclerosis (13 [25%]), and prominent blood vessel sclerosis (10 [20%]). CD21 highlighted disrupted follicular dendritic cell meshwork in 35 (71%) of 49 cases, and CD43 coexpression was present in 10 (24%) of 42 cases. A panel of germinal center-associated markers was helpful in eliminating cases of diffuse follicle center lymphoma. Our results highlight the histologic and immunoarchitectural spectrum of NMZL and the usefulness of immunohistochemical analysis for CD43, CD23, CD21, BCL6, HGAL, and LMO2 in the diagnosis of NMZL.

View details for DOI 10.1309/AJCPZQ1GXBBNG8OG

View details for Web of Science ID 000267206400007

View details for PubMedID 19864232

Abstract

Since its initial description, researchers have expanded the spectrum of Castleman disease to include not only the classic and well-recognized hyaline-vascular type, but also the plasma cell type and multicentric types of broader histologic range, including human herpes virus-8-associated Castleman disease. These less common subtypes of Castleman disease are less familiar, and may be under-recognized. Also of practical importance, current authors are restructuring the classification of multicentric Castleman disease to accommodate the emerging pathogenic role of human herpes virus-8 and its association with the recently described plasmablastic variant. In addition to an increased risk of lymphoma, patients with Castleman disease also are at increased risk for other related neoplasms, including Kaposi sarcoma and follicular dendritic cell tumors, which are of prognostic and therapeutic relevance. This review focuses on the histologic diagnosis of Castleman disease, current and emerging concepts in its pathogenesis and classification, and associated histopathologic entities.

View details for Web of Science ID 000267480300005

View details for PubMedID 19546611

Abstract

Although the new World Health Organization-European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer classification focuses on providing uniformity in the diagnosis of cutaneous lymphomas, cutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTL) remains a poorly defined subgroup. As follow-up to a study of systemic PTL complicated by a proliferation of B cells, we studied 16 cases of cutaneous PTL that contained morphologically atypical T cells associated with a significant infiltrate of B cells (about 20%-50%). A clonal T-cell receptor gamma chain gene rearrangement was present in all cases. In contrast, a clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement was present in only 1 case. Clinical staging in 14 cases identified systemic involvement in 2. At last follow-up, both patients with systemic involvement had died of disease, and the majority of patients with primary cutaneous disease were alive (11/12). The presence of numerous atypical B cells and T cells caused diagnostic confusion in these cases. Comprehensive pathologic studies, coupled with clinical staging, are necessary for the accurate diagnosis of this unusual manifestation of cutaneous PTL.

View details for DOI 10.1309/AJCP5W0VOCSVOBRA

View details for Web of Science ID 000266238600010

View details for PubMedID 19461087

View details for DOI 10.1200/JCO.2008.20.3984

View details for Web of Science ID 000266195400024

View details for PubMedID 19364961

Abstract

The utility of CD20 immunohistochemistry in the evaluation of staging bone marrow biopsies of newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients has not been extensively studied. We used 113 routinely processed bone marrow biopsies to study the extent and pattern of involvement by lymphoma and CD20 staining. Twelve (10.6%) of 113 cases had involvement by morphology, and 5 (41.7%) of these showed histologic discordance between the primary site and the bone marrow. All cases with morphologic evidence of bone marrow involvement showed staining for CD20. Four (3.5%) of 113 cases had non-neoplastic aggregates that stained for CD20. One case (0.9%) showed a small benign lymphoid aggregate by immunohistochemistry that was not evident by morphology. Our results demonstrate that CD20 staining did not detect any examples of bone marrow involvement by DLBCL that were not evident by morphology. We conclude that immunohistochemistry for CD20 adds no increase in the sensitivity of detection of bone marrow infiltration by DLBCL.

View details for Web of Science ID 000263734200001

View details for PubMedID 19521275

Abstract

We previously identified a relatively high frequency of B-cell proliferations along with simultaneous T-cell receptor gamma-chain gene (TRG) and immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (IGH) rearrangements in a series of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified. Here, we report on a series of 74 peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) cases composed entirely of specific PTCL subtypes, including 28 cases of ALK+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL), 35 cases of ALK- ALCL, and 11 cases that represent other specific PTCL subtypes. We performed IGH and TRG gene rearrangement studies and in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) to determine the frequency of IGH clonality and to investigate the relationship between EBV, clonality, and associated B-cell proliferations. Using BIOMED-2 PCR assays, we detected TRG clones in 64 of 74 (86%) cases and IGH clones in 6 of 74 (8%) cases, with all IGH-positive cases exhibiting a concurrent TRG clone. Despite the detection of occasional IGH clones, there was no correlation between IGH clonality and EBV, and B-cell proliferations were not identified in any of the cases. These findings suggest that other factors contribute to IGH clonality and demonstrate that, in the absence of an associated B-cell proliferation, IGH clonality occurs infrequently (8%) in specific PTCL subtypes.

View details for DOI 10.2353/jmoldx.2008.080054

View details for Web of Science ID 000260533600007

View details for PubMedID 18832464

Abstract

Nasal-type extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma is an uncommon malignancy. By using a tissue microarray, we characterized 84 cases of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma with regard to expression of 18 immunohistochemical markers and the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) RNA. In our series, CD2 was positive in 69 (93%) of 74 cases, CD3 in 68 (84%) of 81, CD5 in 22 (27%) of 81, CD20 in 0 (0%) of 82, CD29 in 75 (91%) of 82, CD30 in 29 (35%) of 84, CD43 in 81 (96%) of 84, CD54 in 58 (72%) of 81, CD56 in 46 (58%) of 79, CD62L in 23 (28%) of 83, CD183 in 66 (80%) of 83, BCL2 in 33 (39%) of 84, cutaneous lymphocyte antigen in 21 (25%) of 84, granzyme B in 70 (83%) of 84, Ki-67 in 59 (71%) of 83, linker for activation of T cells in 60 (71%) of 84, perforin in 66 (86%) of 77, TIA1 in 76 (90%) of 84, and EBV in 73 (87%) of 84. Hierarchical cluster analysis separated primary cutaneous cases from cases manifesting in other sites based on lower expression of the cell adhesion molecule CD54.

View details for DOI 10.1309/V561QTM6854W4WAV

View details for Web of Science ID 000258538900003

View details for PubMedID 18701406

Abstract

Hydroa-like lymphoma is an extremely rare and aggressive lymphoma described in children from Latin American countries (Mexico, Guatemala and Peru) and Asia (Japan, Korea and Taiwan). Clinically, patients present with vesicles, ulcers and scars occurring on both sun-exposed and non-sun-exposed areas. In contrast to classical hydroa vacciniforme, hydroa-like lymphoma is associated with systemic lymphoma of T-cell type that expresses either CD4 or CD8. We report the findings from two unusual cases of hydroa-like lymphoma that, unlike the cases described thus far in the literature, express CD56 and resemble natural killer cell lymphomas. Two 9-year-old boys presented with clinical histories of waxing and waning ulcerative blistering lesions since 3 years of age. Histological examination of skin biopsies from both cases showed periappendigeal infiltrates of atypical lymphocytes. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the cells were highlighted by markers for CD3, CD56 and CD30, but did not express CD4 and CD8. Both patients were alive with disease 1 year later. Hydroa-like lymphoma with natural killer-cell phenotype may have a similar outcome to T-cell derived hydroa-like lymphoma, but the prognosis appears to be better than classic NK lymphomas, which in general behave in an aggressive fashion.

View details for DOI 10.1111/j.1600-0560.2007.00836.x

View details for Web of Science ID 000254808200010

View details for PubMedID 17976208

Abstract

A 7-year-old boy presented with fulminant hepatic failure requiring liver transplant. Serologic testing ruled out infectious and autoimmune causes. During transplant surgery he was found to have enlarged periportal lymph nodes that were biopsied. Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma was diagnosed based on histologic examination of the lymph node and liver. The L&H cells within the lymph node were positive for CD20 whereas those within the liver were not, although they were positive for other B-cell markers. After extensive work-up, the cause of liver failure could only be attributed to the involvement by lymphoma. In addition, B-cell clonality was established among the neoplastic cells with the same clone detected in all sampled tissues. Hodgkin lymphoma as a cause of hepatic failure is rare and has not been previously reported in a pediatric patient.

View details for Web of Science ID 000253788700016

View details for PubMedID 18227720

Abstract

Clonal B-cell populations have been described in peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) as secondary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) driven B-cell expansions that may evolve to an overt B-cell lymphoma. EBV-negative B-cell proliferations associated with T-cell lymphomas are uncommon and not well characterized. We studied 15 patients who developed an EBV-negative B-cell proliferation or malignant lymphoma associated with PTCL. The T-cell tumors were 8 PTCL, not otherwise specified, 4 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas, and 3 cutaneous PTCL. The B-cell component was intermingled with the PTCL in all patients and it was classified as clonal/monotypic plasma cell proliferation in 8 lesions, clonal/monotypic large B-cell proliferation in 4 patients, and B-cell lymphoma with plasmacytic/plasmablastic differentiation in 3 patients. Two patients had 2 clonally unrelated plasma cell proliferations associated with the same PTCL. All cases showed cytoplasmic Ig light chain restriction. Clonal IgH and T-cell receptor rearrangements were detected in 11/12 and 11/13 cases examined, respectively. EBV, cytomegalovirus, and HHV-8 were not observed in any of the examined cases. Sequential samples in 7 patients showed persistence of the PTCL and the B-cell component in 4, the PTCL without the B-cell lymphoma in 2, and progression of the B-cell neoplasm in 1. Patients followed an aggressive clinical course similar to conventional PTCL. In conclusion, EBV-negative clonal or mononotypic B-cell proliferations in patients with PTCL present with a spectrum of lesions ranging from plasma cell proliferations to overt lymphomas with plasmacytic/plasmablastic features. The distinctive features of these patients suggest that these lesions represent a specific phenomenon in PTCL.

View details for Web of Science ID 000249170300002

View details for PubMedID 17721185

Abstract

Given their relative rarity, one of the primary diagnostic difficulties in nodal T-cell lymphomas is recognizing their range of histologic patterns. This is complicated by the fact that most mature T-cell lymphomas retain some functional characteristics of nonneoplastic T cells, ie, the capacity to secrete cytokines and costimulate immune cell growth, and, thus, are associated with obscuring nonneoplastic immune cells. Sessions 2 and 3 of the Society for Hematopathology/European Association for Haematopathology Workshop focused on these issues and conditions that may simulate T-cell lymphomas. We summarize salient features of presented cases, including the varied patterns seen in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) and other more poorly characterized morphologic and functional nodal T-cell lymphoma subsets. Many cases illustrated the difficulties distinguishing AITL from peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified, when the neoplasms manifest only some AITL features. The usefulness of separately classifying T-cell lymphomas that demonstrate follicular, perifollicular, or T-zone patterns of infiltration; significance of immunophenotypically distinct subsets that express cytotoxic markers or have features of central memory T cells; diagnostic difficulties posed by B-cell proliferations that accompany T-cell lymphomas; and T-cell lymphoma mimics related to genetic disorders, immune dysregulation, and drug reactions are also discussed.

View details for DOI 10.1309/QBLAMA321K9AD2XK

View details for Web of Science ID 000245248100004

View details for PubMedID 17369127

Abstract

We report on a series of 58 cases of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AILT) and 59 cases of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified (PTCL-NOS). Subsets of cases from both diagnostic groups were complicated by associated B-cell proliferations, and we performed B- and T-cell clonality studies and in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) to investigate the relationship between B-cell proliferation, B-cell clonality, and EBV. Using multiplex polymerase chain reaction assays based on the BIOMED-2 collaborative study, we detected TCRgamma T-cell clones in 78 and 81% of AILT and PTCL-NOS cases, respectively, and IGH B-cell clones in 34 and 35% of AILT and PTCL-NOS cases, respectively. The majority of cases contained EBV-positive cells, including 50% of AILT and 57% of PTCL-NOS cases, and cases with B-cell proliferations were more often EBV-positive. Although a relatively high rate of B-cell clonality has been shown for AILT, our findings for PTCL-NOS differ from previous reports in that B-cell clonality was relatively frequent. Overall, a positive B-cell clone correlated, in part, with the presence of a B-cell proliferation but not with EBV. Our findings demonstrate that B-cell clonality is a common finding in AILT and PTCL-NOS, and its presence should not negate the diagnosis established by morphologic, immunophenotypic, and clinical findings.

View details for DOI 10.2353/jmoldx.2006.060016

View details for Web of Science ID 000240256600010

View details for PubMedID 16931587

Abstract

CD10 expression by the neoplastic T cells in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma was recently described. As cases of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified, fail to show similar CD10 expression, this feature helps discriminate between these two entities, particularly in cases exhibiting morphologic overlap. Given these findings, we studied CD10 expression in a subtype of peripheral T-cell lymphoma known as peripheral T-cell lymphoma complicated by a proliferation of large B cells and compared it with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with a large B-cell proliferation. A total of 33 cases were identified including peripheral T-cell lymphoma complicated by a proliferation of large B cells (10), angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (10) and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with a large B-cell proliferation (13). Diagnoses were established by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain, immunohistochemistry and/or molecular findings (polymerase chain reaction for T-cell receptor-gamma gene rearrangement). Two of 10 cases of peripheral T-cell lymphoma complicated by a proliferation of large B cells showed aberrant CD10 expression (20%) compared to 9/10 cases of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (90%) and 8/13 of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with a large B-cell proliferation (62%). One case each of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with a large B-cell proliferation showed a rare, but not unequivocal, CD10+ atypical cell. Four cases of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with a large B-cell proliferation were CD10 negative. Of the 2 CD10+ peripheral T-cell lymphoma complicated by a proliferation of large B cells, one had no H&E or IHC features of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and showed only a rare positive cell. The second case, a lung biopsy, exhibited diffuse CD10 tumor cell positivity. The predominant staining pattern in the CD10+ cases was characterized by scattered, mostly individual, morphologically neoplastic cells. A rare case showed clusters of positive cells. Our data indicate that only 20% of cases of peripheral T-cell lymphoma complicated by a proliferation of large B cells show CD10 expression by the neoplastic T cells in contrast to angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with a large B-cell proliferation which exhibit CD10 staining in 90 and 62% of cases, respectively. This finding does not reach statistical significance with a P-value of 0.57 (Fisher's exact test). As these entities appear to be biologically distinct and may portend different overall survivals, CD10 expression may serve as an additional discriminating criterion.

View details for DOI 10.1038/modpathol.3800536

View details for Web of Science ID 000235592800001

View details for PubMedID 16400325

Abstract

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma is characterized by a paracortical proliferation of medium to large neoplastic T cells, often with clear cytoplasm, in a background of arborizing high endothelial venules, many surrounded by follicular dendritic cells (FDCs). IHC staining may be applied to highlight these extrafollicular FDCs, traditionally using CD21, or CD23. Several alternative FDC markers have been described, including CNA.42, cystatin A/acid cysteine proteinase inhibitor (ACPI, involved in antigen presentation), and fascin (an actin binding protein). The authors stained a collection of 45 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphomas with CD21, CD23, CNA.42, cystatin A, and fascin for direct comparison of FDC staining characteristics in this setting. CD21 highlighted the expected dendritic network of cell processes, within residual follicles and outside of follicles, often adjacent to proliferating vessels. CD23 exhibited similar staining quality but was less sensitive than CD21. CNA.42 showed only diffuse weak labeling of FDCs. Cystatin A stained the cytoplasm of follicular dendritic cells within and outside of follicles; however, staining was often not sharply localized to dendritic cell processes, and scoring was further complicated by reactivity with other cell types in over half of the cases. Likewise, fascin stained a variety of cell types, including strong staining of interdigitating dendritic-like cells, moderate staining of endothelial cells, and only weak staining of follicular dendritic cells within and outside of follicles. Thus, CD21 remains the most reliable marker of follicular dendritic cells in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

View details for Web of Science ID 000233572700001

View details for PubMedID 16280657

Abstract

The chromosomal translocation t(9;14)(p13;q32) has been reported in association with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL). Although this translocation involving the paired homeobox-5 (PAX5) gene at chromosome band 9p13 and the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene at 14q32 has been described in approximately 50% of LPL cases, the actual number of cases studied is quite small. Many of the initial cases associated with t(9;14)(p13;q32) were actually low-grade B-cell lymphomas with plasmacytic differentiation other than LPL. Thus, we analyzed a series of low-grade B-cell lymphomas for PAX5 gene rearrangements. We searched records from the Department of Pathology, Stanford University Medical Center for low-grade B-cell lymphomas, with an emphasis on plasmacytic differentiation, that had available paraffin blocks or frozen tissue. We identified 37 cases, including 13 LPL, 18 marginal zone lymphomas (nodal, extranodal, splenic, and alpha-heavy chain disease), and 6 small lymphocytic lymphomas. A novel dual-color break-apart bacterial artificial chromosome probe was designed to flank the PAX5 gene, spanning previously described PAX5 breakpoints, and samples were analyzed by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization. All cases failed to demonstrate a PAX5 translocation, indicating that t(9;14)(p13;q32) and other PAX5 translocations are uncommon events in low-grade B-cell lymphomas with plasmacytic differentiation. This study also confirms recent reports that found an absence of PAX5 rearrangements in LPL, suggesting the reassessment of PAX5 rearrangements in LPL.

View details for Web of Science ID 000231054600004

View details for PubMedID 16049306

Abstract

We identified the human germinal center-associated lymphoma (HGAL) in gene-expression profiling studies of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The expression of HGAL correlated with survival in patients with DLBCL. The HGAL gene is the human homolog of M17, a mouse gene expressed specifically in normal germinal center (GC) B cells. We generated a monoclonal antibody against the HGAL protein and show that HGAL is expressed in the cytoplasm of GC lymphocytes and in lymphomas of GC derivation. Among 727 lymphomas tested by immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays, HGAL staining was found in follicular lymphomas (103 of 107), Burkitt lymphomas (40 of 40), mediastinal large B lymphomas (7 of 8), and in DLBCLs (103 of 151). Most marginal zone lymphomas lacked HGAL staining. Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphomas (12 of 17) and, surprisingly, classical Hodgkin lymphomas (78 of 107) were found to be positive. Hierarchical clustering of comparative immunohistologic results in DLBCLs demonstrates that the expression of HGAL is similar to 2 other GC-associated proteins, BCL6 and CD10, but different from 2 markers associated with a non-GC phenotype, MUM1/IRF4 and BCL2. The restricted expression and GC specificity of HGAL protein suggest that it may have an important role in the diagnosis of specific lymphomas, and, potentially in the identification of subtypes associated with different prognoses.

View details for DOI 10.1182/blood-2004-08-3112

View details for Web of Science ID 000229009000042

View details for PubMedID 15677569

Abstract

CD163, a hemoglobin scavenger receptor, is expressed in monocytes and macrophages. We tested the expression of the CD163 protein in 1,105 human malignancies and normal tissues using tissue microarrays and conventional paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Besides staining nonneoplastic monocytes and histiocytes (tissue macrophages), membranous/cytoplasmic staining for CD163 was primarily limited to neoplasms with monocytic/histiocytic differentiation. CD163 reactivity was not observed in normal tissues, lymphomas, carcinomas, and in a majority of mesenchymal neoplasms, including follicular dendritic cell tumors (0 of 4), although it stained admixed histiocytes. Staining for CD163 was seen in Rosai-Dorfman disease (5 of 6), histiocytic sarcoma (3 of 4), littoral cell angioma (6 of 6), and Langerhans cell histiocytosis (3 of 5). A subset of atypical fibrous histiocytomas (9 of 16), benign fibrous histiocytomas (6 of 9), and atypical fibroxanthomas (1 of 3) also showed CD163 staining. Our studies also confirm earlier work showing that CD163 is expressed in acute myeloid leukemia with monocytic differentiation (AML, FAB subtype M5) (2 of 6), as well as a majority of giant cell tenosynovial tumors (7 of 8). Its limited range of expression and tissue specificity indicate that CD163 may have significant diagnostic utility in separating specific tumors with monocytic and histiocytic derivation from other entities in their differential diagnosis.

View details for Web of Science ID 000228707200007

View details for PubMedID 15832085

Abstract

Progression of follicular lymphomas (FLs) is often accompanied by a spectrum of histologic changes and an aggressive clinical course. Although molecular alterations have been implicated in this event, the underlying factors are largely unknown. We studied the expression of selected tumor suppressor genes (P53 and retinoblastoma [RB]), oncogenes (MYC and BCL2), and a transferrin-receptor related protein (Trump) in sequential biopsies in 16 patients. Eleven patients progressed from grade I or II FL to aggressive B-cell lymphomas with diffuse morphology, whereas 5 patients presented with diffuse aggressive lymphomas and recurred with indolent lymphomas. Immunoreactivity for P53 correlated with higher histologic grade in lymphomas progressing from indolent to aggressive; however, only 1 patient who presented with aggressive lymphoma demonstrated a P53 gene mutation. Neither P53 immunoreactivity nor genotypic alterations correlated with presentation with an aggressive histology and relapse with FL. Growth fraction, as assessed by Ki-67 staining, and Trump expression correlated with histologic grade. Immunoreactivity for RB, BCL2, and MYC was seldom associated with progression. Eight of 9 cases tested exhibited identical immunoglobulin heavy and light chain rearrangements or identical BCL2 gene rearrangements in the sequential lymphomas. We conclude that P53 and Trump protein expression and proliferation activity correlate with histologic grade, but not with recurrence or progression of FL. Our results further indicate that progression of FL to diffuse aggressive lymphomas and presentation of an aggressive B-cell lymphoma followed by FL are clonally related.

View details for Web of Science ID 000221718400001

View details for PubMedID 15354733

Abstract

We developed a real-time, quantitative, reverse transcription PCR assay for cyclin D1 (CCND1) expression to aid in the diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The diagnosis of MCL can be problematic, and existing CCND1 expression assays show a lack of specificity, with elevated expression also detected in other lymphoproliferative disorders. We postulated that evaluating CCND1 expression relative to CCND3 expression by quantitative PCR could offer an improved specificity over an evaluation of CCND1 alone. This method quantitates both CCND1 and CCND3, each normalized to a housekeeping gene (GADPH), using the 5'-exonuclease technique. We analyzed 107 clinical specimens: MCL (17), chronic lymphocytic leukemias (CLL) (10), other non-MCL hematolymphoid disorders (41), non-malignant tissues with an epithelial component (7) and other normal samples (32). This method correctly identified 16 of 17 MCLs, and there were no false positives among any of the other diagnostic groups tested including CLL. CLL presents the major diagnostic dilemma at this institution when diagnosing MCL. Sensitivity studies showed that this method could detect an elevated CCND1/CCND3 ratio when the tumor infiltrate is at least 10% of the cells. We compared the specificity of CCND1 expression alone against the CCND1/CCND3 ratio to demonstrate the increased specificity for the latter. We conclude that the CCND1/CCND3 ratio is a sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis of MCL.

View details for Web of Science ID 000221002500002

View details for PubMedID 15096562

Abstract

Nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) has traditionally been recognized as having two morphologic patterns, nodular and diffuse, and the current WHO definition of NLPHL requires at least a partial nodular pattern. Variant patterns have not been well documented. We analyzed retrospectively the morphologic and immunophenotypic patterns of NLPHL from 118 patients (total of 137 biopsy samples). Histology plus antibodies directed against CD20, CD3, and CD21 were used to evaluate the immunoarchitecture. We identified six distinct immunoarchitectural patterns in our cases of NLPHL: "classic" (B-cell-rich) nodular, serpiginous/interconnected nodular, nodular with prominent extranodular L&H cells, T-cell-rich nodular, diffuse with a T-cell-rich background (T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma [TCRBCL]-like), and a (diffuse) B-cell-rich pattern. Small germinal centers within neoplastic nodules were found in approximately 15% of cases, a finding not previously emphasized in NLPHL. Prominent sclerosis was identified in approximately 20% of cases and was frequently seen in recurrent disease. Clinical follow-up was obtained on 56 patients, including 26 patients who had not had recurrence of disease and 30 patients who had recurrence. The follow-up period was 5 months to 16 years (median 2.5 years). The presence of a diffuse (TCRBCL-like) pattern was significantly more common in patients with recurrent disease than those without recurrence. Furthermore, the presence of a diffuse pattern (TCRBCL-like) was shown to be an independent predictor of recurrent disease (P = 0.00324). In addition, there is a tendency for progression to an increasingly more diffuse pattern over time. Analysis of sequential biopsies from patients with recurrent disease suggests that the presence of prominent extranodular L&H cells might represent early evolution to a diffuse (TCRBCL-like) pattern. We also report three patients who presented initially with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and later developed NLPHL.

View details for Web of Science ID 000185584800007

View details for PubMedID 14508396

Abstract

Analysis of the patterns of gene expression in follicular lymphomas from 24 patients suggested that two groups of tumors might be distinguished. All patients, whose biopsies were obtained before any treatment, were treated with rituximab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the B cell antigen, CD20. Gene expression patterns in the tumors that subsequently failed to respond to rituximab appeared more similar to those of normal lymphoid tissues than to gene expression patterns of tumors from rituximab responders. These findings suggest the possibility that the response of follicular lymphoma to rituximab treatment may be predicted from the gene expression pattern of tumors.

View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.0437875100

View details for Web of Science ID 000181073000087

View details for PubMedID 12571354

Abstract

Kikuchi's histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis is a self-limited disorder that typically involves the cervical lymph nodes of young women. Although a viral etiology has been postulated, a definitive viral agent has not been identified. Recent reports have suggested that human herpesvirus 8 (HHV 8) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may play an etiologic role. We investigated the presence of HHV 8 and EBV in archival tissue from 34 cases of Kikuchi's histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis. We examined 29 cases for HHV 8 using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on paraffin-embedded or frozen tissue, and 24 cases for EBV RNA using in situ hybridization (ISH) for EBER1. Controls included reactive lymph nodes from 8 adult women presenting with cervical or axillary lymphadenopathy. The study patients included 7 men and 27 women with a mean age of 28 years. All patients were previously healthy without evidence of immunocompromise and presented with cervical, axillary, or inguinal lymphadenopathy. Two cases exhibited EBV RNA by ISH; this was confirmed by PCR for EBV DNA. HHV 8 DNA was not amplified by nested PCR in any of the cases of Kikuchi's histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis or reactive lymph nodes; control PCR demonstrated the presence of amplifiable DNA in all cases. These findings suggest that HHV 8 and EBV do not play causative roles in Kikuchi's histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis.

View details for DOI 10.1053/hupa.2003.11

View details for Web of Science ID 000181275500005

View details for PubMedID 12612880

Abstract

Follicle center lymphoma (FCL) is an indolent low-grade B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) that frequently transforms to aggressive diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Histological transformation of FCL is commonly associated with accumulation of secondary genetic alterations. The BCL-6 gene is commonly implicated in the pathogenesis of DLBCL and its expression may be altered by clonal rearrangements and somatic point mutations in its 5' non-translated regulatory region. Recently, somatic mutations of the BCL-6 gene were associated with the transformation process. Here, we examined BCL-6 mRNA expression and BCL-6 mutations in paired biopsies from the same patients obtained at the time of FCL diagnosis and after transformation. BCL-6 mRNA expression markedly increased upon transformation (1.9- to 4.8-fold) in three cases, remained unchanged in one case and decreased compared to the diagnosis FCL specimens in four cases. The three specimens that demonstrated an increase in the BCL-6 mRNA expression upon transformation harbored BCL-6 gene mutations in the 5' region of the first intron that overlapped with the previously reported negative regulatory region of the gene. Accumulation of new mutations in this region was not observed in DLBCL biopsies in which the BCL-6 mRNA expression did not increase. The present study demonstrates that although BCL-6 gene mutations do accumulate during the transformation process and, depending on their location within the first intron, may deregulate BCL-6 mRNA expression, increase in BCL-6 mRNA expression is not uniformly required for transformation from FCL to DLBCL.

View details for DOI 10.1038/sj.leu.2402578

View details for Web of Science ID 000178019200039

View details for PubMedID 12200704

Abstract

The natural history of follicular lymphoma (FL) is frequently characterized by transformation to a more aggressive diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We compared the gene-expression profiles between transformed DLBCL and their antecedent FL. No genes were observed to increase or decrease their expression in all of the cases of histological transformation. However, two different gene-expression profiles associated with the transformation process were defined, one in which c-myc and genes regulated by c-myc showed increased expression and one in which these same genes showed decreased expression. Further, there was a striking difference in gene-expression profiles between transformed DLBCL and de novo DLBCL, because the gene-expression profile of transformed DLBCL was more similar to their antecedent FL than to de novo DLBCL. This study demonstrates that transformation from FL to DLBCL can occur by alternative pathways and that transformed DLBCL and de novo DLBCL have very different gene-expression profiles that may underlie the different clinical behaviors of these two types of morphologically similar lymphomas.

View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.132253599

View details for Web of Science ID 000176478200075

View details for PubMedID 12077300

Abstract

We used a panel of paraffin antibodies to determine whether neoplastic and nonneoplastic lymphoid aggregates in the bone marrow can be distinguished reliably. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded bone marrow core biopsy specimens with lymphoid aggregates were stained using primary antibodies directed against bcl-2, bcl-6, CD5, CD10, CD20, and CD23. We studied 61 cases (26 follicular lymphoma and 35 benign or atypical aggregates). We found that no single stain is sufficient for identification of neoplastic lymphoid aggregates. However, this distinction was made possible by using a panel of antibodies. Under the conditions we tested, the most useful antibodies were CD10, bcl-2, CD5, and CD20. Most benign or atypical aggregates do not express CD10 and CD23. In addition, nonneoplastic aggregates had a large population of T cells. bcl-2 was useful in an architectural context for distinguishing neoplastic aggregates. bcl-6 often was expressed in both neoplastic and nonneoplastic aggregates and, thus, poorly discriminated between these processes. We studied the expression of CD10 and bcl-6 in selected lymph nodes in some cases.

View details for Web of Science ID 000174715000018

View details for PubMedID 11939740

Abstract

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is characterized by a marked degree of morphologic and clinical heterogeneity. Establishment of parameters that can predict outcome could help to identify patients who may benefit from risk-adjusted therapies. BCL-6 is a proto-oncogene commonly implicated in DLBCL pathogenesis. A real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay was established for accurate and reproducible determination of BCL-6 mRNA expression. The method was applied to evaluate the prognostic significance of BCL-6 expression in DLBCL. BCL-6 mRNA expression was assessed in tumor specimens obtained at the time of diagnosis from 22 patients with primary DLBCL. All patients were subsequently treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens. These patients could be divided into 2 DLBCL subgroups, one with high BCL-6 gene expression whose median overall survival (OS) time was 171 months and the other with low BCL-6 gene expression whose median OS was 24 months (P =.007). BCL-6 gene expression also predicted OS in an independent validation set of 39 patients with primary DLBCL (P =.01). BCL-6 protein expression, assessed by immunohistochemistry, also predicted longer OS in patients with DLBCL. BCL-6 gene expression was an independent survival predicting factor in multivariate analysis together with the elements of the International Prognostic Index (IPI) (P =.038). By contrast, the aggregate IPI score did not add further prognostic information to the patients' stratification by BCL-6 gene expression. High BCL-6 mRNA expression should be considered a new favorable prognostic factor in DLBCL and should be used in the stratification and the design of risk-adjusted therapies for patients with DLBCL. (Blood. 2001;98:945-951)

View details for Web of Science ID 000170364100008

View details for PubMedID 11493437

Abstract

The gene encoding MUM1 was characterized as a possible translocation partner in chromosomal abnormalities involving a significant number of multiple myelomas. The overexpression of the MUM1 protein as a result of translocation t(6;14) (p25;q32) identified MUM1 as a putative regulatory molecule involved in B-cell differentiation and tumorigenesis. The expression of MUM1 protein in multiple myelomas supports this hypothesis. In the current study, using tissue microarray technology, we have tested the expression of the MUM1 protein in 1335 human malignancies and normal tissues. Our data show that the MUM1 protein is expressed in a wide spectrum of hematolymphoid neoplasms and in malignant melanomas but is absent in other human tumors. In addition, in tissue microarrays as well as in conventional paraffin sections, MUM1 staining was found to lack specificity in detecting plasmacytic differentiation as compared with two markers, CD138/Syndecan and VS38, commonly used in paraffin immunohistochemistry for detection of plasma cells.

View details for Web of Science ID 000169927200008

View details for PubMedID 11455001

Abstract

Natural killer and natural killer-like T-cell lymphomas presenting in the skin usually demonstrate aggressive behavior, an angiocentric distribution and a characteristic immunophenotype. In contrast, primary cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders form a heterogeneous spectrum including anaplastic large cell lymphomas, the majority of which display a good prognosis. Lymphomas with co-expression of CD56 and CD30 are extremely rare and the significance of this co-expression is unknown.Seven retrospectively identified cases of lymphomas with co-expression of CD56 and CD30 presenting in the skin comprise this study. Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization for Epstein-Barr virus and T-cell receptor gene rearrangement studies were performed on paraffin sections.This subset of cutaneous lymphomas showed a variable clinical course that ranged from resolution without treatment, treatment-failure and recurrence, to death from disease. Histologic, immunophenotypic and molecular studies were of limited utility in predicting prognosis.Cutaneous lymphomas co-expressing CD56 and CD30 share many clinicopathologic features with natural killer and natural killer-like T-cell lymphomas or anaplastic large cell lymphomas, two entities with widely disparate clinical behavior. It is important to recognize that these lymphomas may behave more aggressively than primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphomas do. Longer follow-up and further investigations on larger numbers of cases are necessary to fully characterize this rare subset of cutaneous lymphomas.

View details for Web of Science ID 000088444100003

View details for PubMedID 10955685

Abstract

We developed a rapid, simple, and sensitive method for the detection of T-cell receptor-gamma (TCRgamma) gene rearrangements in paraffin-embedded skin biopsies. Available techniques often require either fresh tissue, several primer pairs, nested amplifications, or specialized electrophoresis steps such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Our method is based on heteroduplex analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of the TCRgamma in a nondenaturing modified polyacrylamide gel using a single pair of primers and is adapted for paraffin-embedded tissue. When tested against Southern blot analysis, the PCR results correlated in 8 of 9 cases. Six mature cutaneous B-cell lymphomas and 29 inflammatory skin disorders all resulted in a polyclonal amplification pattern. When analyzing 3-mm or 4-mm punch biopsies of 51 cases of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, 37 (72.5%) showed a clonal rearrangement with this technique. For 7 cases of patch stage mycosis fungoides, frozen tissue and formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue was available, and in 5 of 7 cases (71%), the results in frozen and paraffin-embedded tissue were concordant. One case showed a clonal pattern in frozen tissue but not in paraffin-embedded tissue, and one case was polyclonal in frozen tissue but monoclonal in paraffin-embedded tissue. Using serial dilutions of DNA from a T-cell ALL in a polyclonal background (tonsil), we established a sensitivity of 0.5%. Heteroduplex PCR of the TCRgamma is a rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive screening procedure as well as a useful adjunct to histologic analysis and immunophenotyping of cutaneous T-cell proliferations.

View details for Web of Science ID 000088565400005

View details for PubMedID 10949457

Abstract

We report 2 cases of B-cell lymphoma of the thyroid in which although a marginal zone distribution of the neoplastic cells was present, the cytologic features of the cells indicated large cell lymphoma. One of the cases showed an accumulation of crystalline inclusions within the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells. Many of these inclusion-bearing cells showed plasmacytoid features. By immunohistochemical studies performed on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue, both of the cases showed a B-cell phenotype as indicated by CD20 expression, and 1 showed kappa light chain restriction. In both cases, Ki-67 staining corroborated the impression of an aggressive neoplasm with staining of 50% and 90% of the tumor cells. Both patients received cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone with radiation therapy, and both are without evidence of disease after 17 and 18 months of follow-up. It is important to recognize this pattern of large B-cell lymphoma of the thyroid gland. While the indolent course typical of most low-grade extranodal marginal zone lymphomas is not likely in these cases, the outcome may be favorable if patients are treated aggressively with therapy for large cell lymphoma.

View details for Web of Science ID 000088460700013

View details for PubMedID 10941342

Abstract

Progression of follicular lymphoma to a higher-grade malignancy frequently heralds a poor prognosis. Clinical transformation is variably accompanied by a spectrum of histologic changes characterized by alteration in growth and cytology. Although several cytogenetic events and potential oncogenes have been documented in this progression, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown. We present five patients with an unusual histologic transformation of follicular lymphoma manifested by blastic/blastoid morphology. This transformation is histologically distinct from other types of transformation of follicular lymphoma. All five cases exhibited the t(14;18) translocation and expressed the BCL-2 protein. In addition, two of the five patients showed increased levels of the p53 protein within neoplastic cells implicating a possible role for this oncogene in blastic/blastoid transformation. The lack of BCL-1 and myeloid antigens by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry studies served to distinguish blastic/blastoid transformation of follicular lymphoma from its morphologic mimics. This distinction is clinically important because lymphoblastic and myeloid leukemias require significantly different therapeutic modalities and show better prognosis. Moreover, the lack of Epstein-Barr virus-specific mRNA suggests that this virus is unlikely to participate in blastic/blastoid transformation of follicular lymphoma.

View details for Web of Science ID 000086211700006

View details for PubMedID 10757399

Abstract

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a common type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) that is highly heterogeneous from both clinical and histopathologic viewpoints. The immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy (H) chain variable region genes were examined in 71 patients with untreated primary DLBCL. Fifty-eight potentially functional V(H) genes were detected in 53 DLBCL cases; V(H) genes were nonfunctional in 9 cases and were not detected in an additional 9 cases. The use of V(H) gene families by DLBCL tumors was unbiased without overrepresentation of any particular V(H) gene or gene family. Analysis of Ig mutations in comparison to the most closely related germline gene disclosed mutated V(H) genes in all but 1 DLBCL case. More than 2% difference from the most similar germline sequence was detected in 52 potentially functional and the 8 nonfunctional V(H) gene sequences, whereas less than 2% difference from the germline sequence was observed in 3 V(H) gene isolates. Only 3 V(H) gene isolates were unmutated. No correlation was found between V(H) gene use, mutation level, and International Prognostic Index (IPI) or survival. Six of 8 tested tumors showed evidence of ongoing somatic mutations. Evidence for positive or negative antigen selection pressure was observed in 65% of mutated DLBCL cases. Our findings indicate that the etiology and the driving forces for clonal expansion are heterogeneous, which may explain the well-known clinical and pathologic heterogeneity of DLBCL. (Blood. 2000;95:1797-1803)

View details for Web of Science ID 000085564700037

View details for PubMedID 10688840

Abstract

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is clinically heterogeneous: 40% of patients respond well to current therapy and have prolonged survival, whereas the remainder succumb to the disease. We proposed that this variability in natural history reflects unrecognized molecular heterogeneity in the tumours. Using DNA microarrays, we have conducted a systematic characterization of gene expression in B-cell malignancies. Here we show that there is diversity in gene expression among the tumours of DLBCL patients, apparently reflecting the variation in tumour proliferation rate, host response and differentiation state of the tumour. We identified two molecularly distinct forms of DLBCL which had gene expression patterns indicative of different stages of B-cell differentiation. One type expressed genes characteristic of germinal centre B cells ('germinal centre B-like DLBCL'); the second type expressed genes normally induced during in vitro activation of peripheral blood B cells ('activated B-like DLBCL'). Patients with germinal centre B-like DLBCL had a significantly better overall survival than those with activated B-like DLBCL. The molecular classification of tumours on the basis of gene expression can thus identify previously undetected and clinically significant subtypes of cancer.

View details for Web of Science ID 000085227300039

View details for PubMedID 10676951

Abstract

Primary T-cell lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract is a rare and usually aggressive disorder that may be associated with celiac disease. The authors describe a unique case of a clonal proliferation of CD8+ T cells involving the oral mucosa, ileum, and colon of a 35-year-old man that has regressed spontaneously and recurred numerous times over a 9-year period without treatment. The patient's symptoms were limited to occasional rectal bleeding and recurring painful oral ulcers. Within the intestine, these collections of small T cells induced minimal architectural distortions and did not show extensive epitheliotrophism. Polymerase chain reaction and sequencing analyses revealed that the identical T-cell clone has been present for more than 9 years and in different mucosal locations in this patient. This may represent a unique T-cell lymphoproliferative process akin to a mucosal counterpart of lymphomatoid papulosis of the skin.

View details for Web of Science ID 000085133700017

View details for PubMedID 10680899

Abstract

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections range in severity from common cutaneous outbreaks to life-threatening central nervous system and deep organ involvement. HSV lymphadenitis is extremely rare but occurs both as a component of widely disseminated disease and as a localized, mild illness.Five patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) underwent lymph node biopsy and were found to have histologic and immunophenotypic evidence of HSV infection in association with CLL.The patients were 3 males and 2 females ranging in age from 50 to 86 years. Only 1 patient had clinical evidence of cutaneous herpes at any time; in that patient, herpes lymphadenitis preceded the cutaneous herpes by 3 years. Four patients received no therapy for herpes at any time, whereas one was treated with intravenous and oral acyclovir. One patient died of CLL approximately 20 months after herpes lymphadenitis was diagnosed. The remaining four patients are alive with CLL. No patient had a fulminant clinical course related to HSV or developed disseminated infection.Herpes lymphadenitis may not have a fulminant course even in immunosuppressed CLL patients, even if they receive no antiviral therapy.

View details for Web of Science ID 000082749200016

View details for PubMedID 10506706

Abstract

Lymphocytes that are responsible for regional (tissue-specific) immunity home from the blood to the intestines, inflamed skin or other sites through a multistep process involving recognition of vascular endothelial cells and extravasation. Chemoattractant cytokine molecules known as chemokines regulate this lymphocyte traffic, in part by triggering arrest (stopping) of lymphocytes rolling on endothelium. Here we show that many systemic memory T cells in blood carry the chemokine receptor CCR4 and therefore respond to its ligands, the chemokines TARC and MDC. These cells include essentially all skin-homing cells expressing the cutaneous lymphocyte antigen and a subset of other systemic memory lymphocytes; however, intestinal (alpha4beta7+) memory and naive T cells respond poorly. Immunohistochemistry reveals anti-TARC reactivity of venules and infiltration of many CCR4+ lymphocytes in chronically inflamed skin, but not in the gastrointestinal lamina propria. Moreover, TARC induces integrin-dependent adhesion of skin (but not intestinal) memory T cells to the cell-adhesion molecule ICAM-1, and causes their rapid arrest under physiological flow. Our results suggest that CCR4 and TARC are important in the recognition of skin vasculature by circulating T cells and in directing lymphocytes that are involved in systemic as opposed to intestinal immunity to their target tissues.

View details for Web of Science ID 000082131100053

View details for PubMedID 10466728

Abstract

Large B-cell lymphoma manifesting in the mediastinum shows distinctive clinical and immunophenotypic features and is recognized as a unique type of large B-cell lymphoma in the Revised European-American Lymphoma classification. Fifty-one cases of primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma were retrieved from the immunodiagnosis laboratory database files and were stained with anti-CD30 (Ber-H2). Of the 51 cases, 35 (69%) stained for CD30. This staining ranged from strong membrane staining of all or almost all of the neoplastic cells to positivity of rare individual cells. Eleven cases (22%) were negative; 4 (8%) were equivocal. Only 1 case was uninterpretable owing to B-5 fixation and lack of a positive internal control. Thus, the majority of mediastinal large B-cell lymphomas express the Hodgkin marker CD30. This finding may result in misdiagnosis of large cell lymphoma as Hodgkin disease.

View details for Web of Science ID 000081664800012

View details for PubMedID 10439805

Abstract

NK-like T-cell malignancies are part of a spectrum of lymphoproliferative diseases that complicate immunosuppression associated with solid organ transplantation. We describe 2 patients with long-standing immunosuppression following solid organ transplantation. Both patients had systemic symptoms that included fever, myalgia, and weight loss. Organ involvement and lymphadenopathy were not initially observed. Unique to these 2 cases are the initial leukemic symptoms, which led to further characterization and identification of NK-like T-cell malignancies. Both patients exhibited an anomalous T/NK phenotype, CD56 positivity, and atypical blastic architecture of the large granular lymphocytes. Clonal rearrangement of T-cell receptor genes was detected in both patients. In 1 patient, a cytogenetic abnormality involving 8q24 was demonstrated. The disease course in both patients was aggressive, with involvement of multiple sites and rapid demise. This study emphasizes the importance of including NK-like T-cell malignancies in the differential diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders associated with immunosuppression and recognizing that an aggressive clinical course may follow leukemic presentation of disease.

View details for Web of Science ID 000079920500011

View details for PubMedID 10230357

Abstract

Natural killer (NK) and NK-like T-cell lymphomas are rare hematolymphoid malignancies that predominate in the upper aerodigestive system. They also involve other extranodal sites, including the skin. Primary cutaneous manifestations of NK and NK-like T-cell lymphomas are uncommon, and the clinicopathologic features are poorly understood. We have studied 12 patients of varied ethnic backgrounds with CD56-positive lymphomas in the skin. Six patients subsequently progressed to disseminated disease. These lymphomas showed the following immunophenotype: CD56+, CD43+, TCRb-, CD3-/+, CD20-, CD30-/+, CD4-, and CD8-. Two cases exhibited T-cell receptor gene rearrangements supporting a T-cell origin for these lymphomas, whereas the remaining 10 cases were likely derived from NK cells. Our results show inconsistent association of these lymphomas with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), the multidrug resistance phenotype, and expression of P53. In addition, we found a previously unreported correlation between lymphomas harboring EBV mRNA and the expression of the multidrug resistance phenotype. These lymphomas were aggressive and were associated with rapid clinical progression, treatment failure, multiple relapses, and an average survival of 15 months from the time of diagnosis. Our results indicate the importance of recognizing this disease as a distinct subset of aggressive cutaneous lymphomas that may be diagnosed on the basis of morphology, immunophenotype, and gene rearrangement studies.

View details for Web of Science ID 000080178200012

View details for PubMedID 10328090

Abstract

The blastoid variant of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL-BV) can occur de novo or can represent a morphologic transformation of MCL associated with aggressive clinical disease. Its cytologic appearance is very similar to that of lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) because of its characteristic nuclear features and high proliferative rate. To assess the usefulness of antibodies to cyclin D-1 (BCL-1/ PRAD-1), CD99 (12E7), CD34, and TdT in distinguishing between MCL-BV and LBL in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue, we studied from the Stanford data base 10 cases originally diagnosed as B-lineage LBL, 5 MCL-BVs, 2 cases thought likely to represent MCL-BV, and 2 blastic lymphomas whose morphology and immunophenotype were indeterminate. Six (60%) of 10 LBLs stained with CD99, as opposed to none of 7 MCL-BVs. Four (40%) of 10 LBLs reacted with CD34, as compared with none of 7 MCL-BVs. Eight (89%) of nine LBLs were positive for TdT, but all of the four MCL-BVs tested were negative. In contrast, the anti-cyclin D-1 antibody stained the nuclei of all of the MCL-BVs and none of the LBLs tested. On the basis of our evaluation, the probable MCL-BV cases were considered to be definite MCL-BV. Of the indeterminate cases, one was considered to be LBL, whereas we felt that the other represented MCL-BV. We conclude that staining formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, high-grade lymphomas with anti-cyclin D-1 antibody is useful in confirming the diagnosis of MCL-BV, whereas positive reactions with CD99, CD34, and particularly TdT are more characteristic of LBL.

View details for Web of Science ID A1997XR36400009

View details for PubMedID 9267824

View details for Web of Science ID A1997XN79200022

View details for PubMedID 9261530

Abstract

While plasmacytosis is a common occurrence in early post-bone marrow transplantation biopsy specimens, the significance of plasma cells in such specimens from patients with multiple myeloma (MM) is unknown. We attempted to retrospectively determine, by morphologic assessment of plasma cell percentage, immunohistologic assessment of plasma cell light chain ratio (LCR), and correlation with clinical outcome, the prevalence and significance of plasmacytosis in the posttransplantation bone marrow biopsy specimens of 25 patients with MM who underwent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). No pre-PBSCT morphologic or immunologic characteristics were significantly associated with the post-PBSCT outcome in this group of patients. While 9% of all biopsy specimens and 25% of hypocellular biopsy specimens obtained during the first 60 days after the PBSCT contained more than 10% plasma cells, 34% of all biopsy specimens obtained during this period had elevated LCRs. The dominant light chain in all cases with high LCRs was the same as that of the original tumors, implying that these plasma cells represent a portion of the patients' original tumors. However, the presence of tumoral plasma cells during the early post-PBSCT period was not associated with outcome (P>.5 at 30 days and 60 days after transplantation). Histologic features of recurrent MM and elevated LCR occurring at day 90 or later are correlated with progression of disease (P=.02 and P=.0001, respectively). We conclude that the presence of tumoral plasma cells in the early post-PBSCT period likely represents residual tumor and should not be regarded as indicating imminent relapse, while the presence of tumor as assessed by histologic or immunohistochemical evaluation during the late post-PBSCT period should raise the concern of relapse and disease progression.

View details for Web of Science ID A1997XA22800005

View details for PubMedID 9169660

Abstract

True histiocytic lymphomas (THLs) are rare tumors in which the malignant cells show morphologic and immunophenotypic evidence of histiocytic differentiation. We describe THLs that arose after therapy for one case of T-lineage lymphoblastic lymphoma (LyL) and two cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (both CD10+, one pre-B phenotype). The lymphoblastic neoplasms were not unusual in any way, and responded well to standard therapy. The THLs arose 10 to 20 months after complete remission was achieved for the lymphoblastic neoplasms, at which time there was still no clinical or pathologic evidence of the lymphoblastic neoplasms. All three THLs exhibited clinical and morphologic features of malignancy. Neoplastic cells in the THLs had abundant eosinophilic vacuolated cytoplasm and pleomorphic nuclei, and expressed histiocytic antigens in the absence of lymphocyte-specific lineage markers. Because THLs are rare neoplasms, their occurrence after otherwise successful therapy for lymphoblastic neoplasms in these three cases may constitute a distinct clinicopathologic entity.

View details for Web of Science ID A1996UQ70900031

View details for PubMedID 8652834

Abstract

Although Hodgkin's disease (HD) has been a subject of much investigation, fundamental questions remain unanswered regarding its lineage and clonality. The authors used a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique to investigate whether clonal Variable-Diversity-Joining recombination of the immunoglobulin heavy (IgH) chain gene, a phenomenon that characterizes clonal B-cell proliferations, exists in nodular sclerosing (NSHD) and mixed cellularity (MCHD) Hodgkin's disease (so-called "classical" Hodgkin's disease). The isolation of DNA from paraffin-embedded tissue sections allowed for direct correlation of PCR results with the cell populations that were analyzed. Thirty-two cases were studied. These included 12 cases in which the Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells expressed the B-cell antigen, CD20, and 10 cases that were classified as syncytial variant of NSHD (3 CD20+, 7 B-cell antigen negative). Overall, clonal patterns of VDJ PCR products were found in 14 of 32 (44%) cases. These clonal patterns were identified in 7 of 12 (58%) cases of CD20+ classical HD and in 7 of 20 (35%) cases of B-antigen-negative classical HD. Clonal patterns were found in 3 of 10 cases of syncytial variant of NSHD, including 2 of 3 (67%) CD20+ cases and 1 of 7 (14%) B-cell antigen-negative cases. The results of this study provide support that a subset of HD represents a clonal B-cell neoplasm, and indicate that clonal IgH VDJ sequences are more frequently found in CD20+ HD.

View details for Web of Science ID A1995RZ47500011

View details for PubMedID 7572792

Abstract

True histiocytic lymphoma (THL), as it is currently defined, is a rare entity. We report 12 cases of THL seen at Stanford over the last ten years. By definition, the neoplastic cells in each case showed histological and immunological evidence of histiocytic differentiation. Seven females and five males ranged in age from 9 to 67 years. Sites of involvement included lymph node, soft tissue, bone, stomach, small intestine, mediastinum, kidney, breast and salivary gland. Lymph nodes showed diffuse architectural effacement and/or a paracortical pattern of involvement. The infiltrates involved other tissues in a diffuse pattern. Cytologically the cells were characterized by abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and enlarged, indented eccentrically placed nuclei containing prominent nucleoli. In all cases the cytological features were sufficiently atypical to indicate a neoplastic infiltrate. Paraffin section immunophenotyping demonstrated reactivity of the atypical cells for CD15, 43, 45RO, 45RB, 68, lysozyme and/or S100. In frozen sections, the atypical cells demonstrated reactivity for CD4 (cytoplasmic), 11c, 14, 15, and/or 68. Genotypic studies were performed on 3 cases, one of which showed rearrangements of immunoglobulin heavy and light chain genes. Follow-up was available on eleven patients, six of whom died of disease 0.5 to 36 months following diagnosis.

View details for Web of Science ID A1995RN15600010

View details for PubMedID 8580833

Abstract

Nonneoplastic mononuclear cells commonly infiltrate lesions of mycosis fungoides.We sought to determine the immunophenotypic characteristics of these cells and to determine whether the presence of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes has an impact on prognosis.Skin biopsy specimens from 78 patients were stained with immunopleroxidase techniques to determine their phenotypic characteristics. The proportion of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes was quantified and compared with stage of disease and survival rate.Patients with more limited T-stage disease tended to have a higher proportion of CD8+ cells in their skin biopsy specimens, compared with patients with more advanced T-stage disease. Within each T-stage patients with a larger proportion of CD8+ cells had a better survival rate than those with fewer CD8+ cells (p < 0.05 for T1 and T3). A multivariate analysis confirmed the importance of T stage (p = 0.0006), overall stage (p = 0.0112), and CD8 positivity (p = 0.0335) in this cohort of patients.CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in mycosis fungoides correlate with improved survival rate and may exert an antitumor effect rather than being mere bystander cells.

View details for Web of Science ID A1995QJ45800006

View details for PubMedID 7868714

Abstract

The association between rheumatic disease and the occurrence of hematolymphoid neoplasms has been a subject of investigation for many years. Recently, we and others have reported the development in rheumatic patients of lymphoproliferative disorders that are similar to those occurring in patients with known immunocompromised states. The lymphoid neoplasms that develop in patients with immunosuppression are characterized by several features including the presence of EBV genome in the neoplastic cells. The fact that lymphomas with features of those occurring in immunosuppressed patients can occur in patients with rheumatic disease suggests that immune system impairment secondary to the rheumatic disease, the treatment given for the rheumatic disease, or to a combination of these factors, might play a role in the development of lymphoma in these patients. This review will first describe the characteristics of lymphoproliferative disorders that occur in patients with known immunocompromised states. It will then review general aspects of lymphomas in rheumatic patients with a focus on more recent reports that have described the development of immunosuppression-associated lymphoproliferative disorders in rheumatic patients. Studies that investigate the relative contribution of the rheumatic disease versus therapy for rheumatic disease in the development of lymphoma in this patient group are still needed.

View details for Web of Science ID A1995QJ55000001

View details for PubMedID 7787745

Abstract

Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndromes are a heterogeneous group of disorders in which viral infection is associated with a proliferation of hemophagocytic histiocytes throughout the reticuloendothelial system. The authors report the case of a 24-year-old Vietnamese male who developed a hemophagocytic syndrome associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and who died following a rapidly progressive course. A proliferation of reactive-appearing lymphoid cells was associated with an extensive proliferation of erythrophagocytic histiocytes. Immunophenotypically, the lymphoid infiltrate consisted of CD56+ natural killer cells, predominantly CD8+ T-cells and rare B-cells (CD20+). Double-label immunohistochemical studies showed CD3+ T-cells and CD56+ natural killer cells to be distinct cell populations. Combined immunohistochemical-in situ hybridization studies localized EBV to CD43+, CD3-, CD68-, lymphoid-appearing cells, indicating the presence of EBV within natural killer cells. Southern hybridization analysis of EBV genomic termini revealed clonal EBV genome. However, there was no detectable immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor gene rearrangements. The findings indicate that this case of hemophagocytic syndrome represents a clonal proliferation of natural killer cells containing EBV and highlights the importance of the analysis of EBV genomic termini for determination of clonality in EBV-associated proliferations. It is possible that other cases of fulminant EBV-associated hemophagocytic syndromes represent clonal natural killer cell proliferations.

View details for Web of Science ID A1995QF55100015

View details for PubMedID 7856561

Abstract

The authors analyzed the frequency of immunophenotypic abnormalities in 1,474 cases of routinely fixed, paraffin-embedded B-lineage non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. B-lineage was determined by immunoreactivity for CD20 (L26, 92%); CD45RA (4KB5, an additional 3%) or immunoglobulin (Ig) light chain restriction (remaining 5%). CD45RA was found to be especially helpful on Bouin's-fixed or decalcified tissue and Ig staining was most helpful in plasmacytoid lesions. Coexpression of the T-cell marker CD43 (Leu-22) was the most common immunophenotypic abnormality, seen in 60% of mantle cell lymphomas (MCL), 39% of CLL/small lymphocytic lymphomas, 16% of diffuse large cell lymphomas (DLCL), but only 5% of follicular lymphomas (FL). Antibodies to CD45RO (A6 and UCHL1) and CD3 (polyclonal) were useful in distinguishing infiltrating T cells from B cells coexpressing CD43. Ig light chain restriction was the next commonest immunophenotypic abnormality, which was identified in 67% of plasmacytoid diffuse small cell lymphomas, 43% of MCLs, 35% of monocytoid B-cell lymphomas and 28% of FLs. Overexpression of bcl-2 oncogenic protein was observed in 71% of FLs (n = 96), but not in a control group of reactive follicular hyperplasias (n = 34). Combining two criteria increased the sensitivity of immunodiagnosis in certain circumstances.

View details for Web of Science ID A1994PX40700024

View details for PubMedID 7801900

Abstract

We describe the first case of an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated natural killer-large granular lymphocyte (NK-LGL) leukemia in the United States to the best of our knowledge. A 29-year-old woman of Japanese descent developed EBV infection after a blood transfusion as indicated by a rise in serum antibody titers. Peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate smears demonstrated increased LGLs. Flow cytometry showed that these cells expressed NK-associated surface antigens. Cytogenetic analysis of the bone marrow aspirate showed two distinct but related clones with multiple copies of a modified 7 marker chromosome. Death followed colonic perforation. Findings at necropsy included bone marrow lymphocytosis and erythrophagocytosis, a mononucleosis-like lymphadenitis, atypical hepatitis with a mixed, predominantly T-cell infiltrate, interstitial pneumonitis, and multiorgan system vasculitis with perforation of the transverse colon. Epstein-Barr virus transcripts were identified in lymphocytes infiltrating liver and peripheral nerve by in situ hybridization. In addition, Southern blot analyses showed monoclonal bands superimposed on oligoclonal ladders of EBV termini in liver and lymph node. The identical episomal form of EBV was found in the bone marrow, lymph node, and liver. No immunoglobulin (Ig), T-cell receptor beta, or T-cell receptor gamma chain gene rearrangements were identified. These studies support the hypothesis that the LGL population was a neoplastic EBV-related clonal proliferation of NK cells.

View details for Web of Science ID A1994PG35800018

View details for PubMedID 8088773

Abstract

We recently reported two cases of reversible Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphomas in patients undergoing methotrexate therapy for rheumatic disease. The current study was undertaken to investigate how frequently lymphoid neoplasms in patients with rheumatic disease show features of lymphoproliferations occurring in immunocompromised patients. Eighteen patients (including the two previously reported patients) with rheumatoid arthritis or dermatomyositis who developed lymphoproliferative lesions and on whom detailed clinical information was available were studied. As a group these patients developed a spectrum of lymphoproliferative lesions; however, a subset of patients developed neoplasms with features associated with immunosuppression. The neoplasms occurred in extranodal sites in 10 (56%) patients, showed a diffuse large-cell histology in nine (50%) patients, and contained EBV (EBER1) transcripts and EBV latent membrane protein in six (33%) patients. In three (17%) patients the neoplasms showed the entire constellation of features typical of immunosuppression-associated lymphoproliferations, including extranodal location, large-cell or polymorphous histology, geographic areas of necrosis, and the presence of EBV. These three patients were receiving both steroids and methotrexate at the time they developed their neoplasms. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that a subset of lymphoid neoplasms in rheumatic patients occurs in an immunocompromised setting and suggest that therapeutic immunosuppression may contribute, at least in part, to the development of these lymphoid neoplasms.

View details for Web of Science ID A1994NX22700003

View details for PubMedID 8026822

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infection is a risk factor for gastric adenocarcinoma. We examined whether this infection is also a risk factor for primary gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.This nested case-control study involved two large cohorts (230,593 participants). Serum had been collected from cohort members and stored, and all subjects were followed for cancer. Thirty-three patients with gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were identified, and each was matched to four controls according to cohort, age, sex, and date of serum collection. For comparison, 31 patients with nongastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from one of the cohorts were evaluated, each of whom had been previously matched to 2 controls. Pathological reports and specimens were reviewed to confirm the histologic type of the tumor. Serum samples from all subjects were tested for H. pylori IgG by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Thirty-three cases of gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma occurred a median of 14 years after serum collection. Patients with gastric lymphoma were significantly more likely than matched controls to have evidence of previous H. pylori infection (matched odds ratio, 6.3; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.0 to 19.9). The results were similar in both cohorts. Among the 31 patients with nongastric lymphoma, a median of six years had elapsed between serum collection and the development of disease. No association was found between nongastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and previous H. pylori infection (matched odds ratio, 1.2; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.5 to 3.0).Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma affecting the stomach, but not other sites, is associated with previous H. pylori infection. A causative role for the organism is plausible, but remains unproved.

View details for Web of Science ID A1994NJ51200003

View details for PubMedID 8145781

Abstract

Expression of the bcl-2 proto-oncogene on chromosome 18 is deregulated by the 14; 18 chromosomal translocation, an abnormality that is consistently associated with follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL). Because bcl-2 is believed to function by prolonging cell survival rather than by increasing proliferation, the presence of t(14; 18) in Hodgkin's disease (HD) would have profound implications for the pathogenesis of this neoplasm. We evaluated 32 cases of HD for t(14; 18) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). These results were correlated with expression of bcl-2 oncogenic protein by Hodgkin cells and with the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), as determined by immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization. PCR provided evidence of t(14; 18) in only 2 HD cases (6%), both of which were associated with a prior history of follicular lymphoma, and both of which were among the 7 cases (22%) with strong bcl-2 expression in Hodgkin cells. In at least 1 of the cases, the translocation involved identical chromosomal breakpoints in both types of lymphoma. Furthermore, 7 additional cases of combined follicular NHL and HD showed strong bcl-2 staining in Hodgkin cells. Although EBV was detected in 6 of 30 cases, it was not associated with t(14; 18) and usually not with strong bcl-2 expression. These results suggest that a small proportion of HD cases might evolve from follicular NHL, possibly through molecular events superimposed on the t(14; 18). High-level bcl-2 expression in Hodgkin cells is a potentially useful but not definitive marker for these cases.

View details for Web of Science ID A1994MQ09800029

View details for PubMedID 8274737

View details for PubMedID 8385742

Abstract

Recent literature suggests that usual Hodgkin's disease (nodular sclerosing and mixed cellularity types or UHD) and nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease (NLPHD) may be distinct clinical and pathologic entities. Thus, coexistence of NLPHD and UHD in the same patient is expected to be rare. We undertook a review of cases accessioned as NLPHD and UHD in the Laboratory of Surgical Pathology at Stanford University Hospital between January 1980 and May 1992 and found five patients with UHD that predated, followed, or coexisted with lesions histologically typical of NLPHD. All of the patients were male with ages ranging from 10 to 30 years at presentation (median, 22 years; mean, 22.2 years). The sites initially involved by disease were primarily peripheral lymph nodes in the region of the head and neck: cervical (three), supraclavicular (one), submandibular (one). One patient presented with mixed-cellularity Hodgkin's disease (MCHD), two with nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's disease including the cellular phase, one with NLPHD, and the remaining patient presented with a composite malignancy comprising MCHD and NLPHD. Development of the second lymphoma was associated with a somewhat more variable distribution of nodal involvement. The morphologic features in each biopsy specimen resembled either typical NLPHD or UHD, except for one case in which cells with features of both Reed-Sternberg cells and lymphocytic and histiocytes cells were identified. However, the immunophenotypic profiles obtained with a panel of monoclonal antibodies remained distinct for all cases studied. None of the cases showed reactivity with antibodies against the Epstein-Barr-virus latent membrane protein. Thus, NLPHD and UHD maintain a distinct phenotype, even when occurring in the same patient. A second conclusion is that the utility of Leu-7 (CD57) reactivity in distinguishing NLPHD applies to problematic as well as classic cases. Finally, Epstein-Barr virus is not implicated in NLPHD cases associated with UHD.

View details for Web of Science ID A1993KT99100007

View details for PubMedID 8494105

Abstract

Several recent reports have suggested that nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's disease (NLPHD) may be distinct from other forms of Hodgkin's disease and may be more closely related to B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This is primarily based on immunophenotypic studies that have shown that the L & H cells in NLPHD demonstrate a B-cell phenotype. In 1989, Poppema reported that the T cells in NLPHD differ from T cells in other forms of Hodgkin's disease in that they demonstrate reactivity for Leu 7 (CD57). In this study we tested the hypothesis that Leu 7 (CD57) reactivity of small lymphocytes in NLPHD is an immunophenotypic feature that distinguishes NLPHD from nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease and from certain B-cell lymphomas that may histologically simulate NLPHD, namely T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. Using an image analysis method, we found Leu 7 (CD57) reactivity in an average of 18.9% of the small lymphocytes in the nodules of NLPHD compared with 3.9% in nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease, 4.3% in T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma, and 2.1% in follicular lymphoma. Moreover, Leu 7 (CD57)-reactive small lymphocytes often showed a distinctive pattern in NLPHD, forming a ring of cells around the large L & H cells. While scattered Leu 7 (CD57)-reactive lymphocytes were found in the other disorders, the percentage of reactive cells and the pattern of reactivity were significantly different in NLPHD. These results suggest that Leu 7 (CD57) reactivity may be used as an additional immunophenotypic criterion in distinguishing NLPHD from nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease, T-cell-rich B-cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma. The clinical and biological significance of Leu 7 (CD57) reactivity of small lymphocytes in NLPHD merits further investigation.

View details for Web of Science ID A1993KL85800023

View details for PubMedID 7679553

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract is the most common site for extranodal lymphomas, but follicular lymphomas involving the gut are rare. To study their pathologic features and bcl-2 expression, 31 follicular lymphomas of the GI tract were reviewed and unstained paraffin sections from 24 of the cases were immunohistochemically stained using a monoclonal antibody for the peptide product of the proto-oncogene bcl-2. The most common site of lymphoma involvement was the small intestine, especially the terminal ileum. Gastric lymphomas tended to present clinically with symptomatic ulcers and small intestinal lesions presented with obstruction. Five cases involving the terminal ileum or colon had a gross appearance of multitudinous mucosal polyps and were considered to represent examples of "multiple lymphomatous polyposis." Enhanced expression of the bcl-2 oncogenic protein was detectable in lymphoma cells in 75% of cases and at lower levels in normal lymphoid cells in most cases. Small cleaved or mixed cell lymphomas were more likely to show enhanced expression than were large cell cases. Reactive germinal centers showed no bcl-2 staining. It is concluded that follicular GI lymphomas are associated with distinctive pathological features. In their tendency to express bcl-2, these neoplasms resemble their lymph node-based counterparts. Immunohistochemical staining for enhanced bcl-2 expression is of potential diagnostic utility in distinguishing between follicular lymphoma and follicular lymphoid hyperplasia in the gastrointestinal tract. The relevance of the results to lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) is discussed.

View details for Web of Science ID A1992HY13500007

View details for PubMedID 1376556

Abstract

The expression of T-cell antigen receptor beta-chain variable genes (V beta) was evaluated in 28 cases of mycosis fungoides. A novel polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used to associate expression of particular V beta genes with monoclonal T-cell populations. In addition, the same biopsies used for PCR analysis were also examined for reactivity with a panel of seven monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognized V beta proteins from four different families. Only three cases clearly stained with the antibodies, a result consistent with a diverse set of V beta genes being used. This was confirmed by PCR analysis, which indicated that V beta genes from many different families were expressed by these tumors. Preferential use of the V beta 8 family, which had been previously use of the V beta 8 family, which had been previously reported for this disease, was not evident among the cases analyzed.

View details for Web of Science ID A1992GZ63600002

View details for PubMedID 1731519

Abstract

The utility of staining for Leu M1 (CD15) as a diagnostic aid in Hodgkin's disease has been questioned because of a relative lack of specificity and sensitivity. Furthermore, interpretation is often made difficult by staining that tends to be weak and focal. Because the murine monoclonal anti-Leu M1 antibody is of immunoglobulin M type, it is reasonable to wonder whether improved immunohistochemical staining might result from use of a secondary goat antibody specific for the mouse mu heavy chain instead of the traditional one against mouse immunoglobulin. The two methods were compared, using a biotin-avidin detection system, on paraffin sections from 15 cases of Hodgkin's disease: 9 nodular sclerosing, 1 mixed cellularity, and 5 of nodular lymphocytic and histiocytic (L&H) type. In the nodular sclerosing/mixed cellularity group, the mu-specific detection method resulted in a greater number of cases with reactive Hodgkin's cells (7 versus 5), stained an average of more than three times as many neoplastic cells in each case (49% versus 14%), and usually produced staining that was distinctly more intense, often in a membrane and paranuclear distribution characteristic of Leu M1 in Hodgkin's cells. In the noLeu M1 in Hodgkin's cells. In the nodular L&H group, 1 case showed weak, focal staining with the newer method. None of the L&H cases stained using the traditional technique. It is concluded that use of a second-stage antibody that is directed specifically against mu heavy chains results in an improvement in immunohistochemical staining for Leu M1 in paraffin sections, which is of practical significance.

View details for Web of Science ID A1992GZ46300023

View details for PubMedID 1345892

Abstract

Although diffuse large cell lymphomas can be morphologically divided into large cell (DLC) and immunoblastic (IBL) subtypes, the clinical significance of this subdivision remains controversial. The initial diagnostic materials from 85 patients with recorded diagnoses of diffuse large cell lymphoma who were treated at Stanford between 1975 and 1986 with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin (Adriamycin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH), vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP); methotrexate, bleomycin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dexamethasone (M-BACOD); or methotrexate, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and bleomycin (MACOP-B) chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed by a panel of hematopathologists and classified according to morphologic criteria of the Working Formulation. Based on the criterion of agreement of two of three observers, 60 patients were classified as having DLC, 19 as having IBL, and the lymphomas in 6 patients could not be additionally classified. No significant differences in complete response (CR) rate, freedom from disease progression (FFP), or overall survival were found between the DLC and IBL groups. There was also no significant difference in prognosis between DLC cases additionally subclassified as large cleaved cell (16 patients) and those with large non-cleaved cell (36 patients). Although IBL is considered to be a high-grade lymphoma, the authors concluded that it does not differ significantly in prognosis from DLC lymphoma and, therefore, does not justify a modified treatment selection based on IBL morphologic type alone. Definitive evaluation of the prognostic significance of morphologic subdivision may require a larger cohort of uniformly treated patients.

View details for Web of Science ID A1991GK16800022

View details for PubMedID 1913547

Abstract

The authors report the histories of two patients with undifferentiated carcinoma metastatic to lymph nodes simulating the "syncytial variant" of nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease. One of the patients initially was treated for Hodgkin's disease, but the clinical evolution was more typical of carcinoma. Both lesions were characterized histologically by noncohesive aggregates of large neoplastic cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and conspicuous nucleoli. Although cells compatible with diagnostic Reed-Sternberg cells were identified in an "appropriate" cellular background in both patients, the diagnosis of carcinoma was supported by intense cytokeratin immunoreactivity. Subtle histologic clues that should suggest the possibility of metastatic carcinoma in a patient whose morphologic data suggests the syncytial variant of nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease include sinus infiltration, phagocytosis of neutrophils by tumor cells, marked nuclear anaplasia, and the presence of spindle-shaped tumor cells.

View details for Web of Science ID A1991GN54700007

View details for PubMedID 1719796

Abstract

Vascular transformation of lymph node sinuses (VTS) is characterized by conversion of nodal sinuses into capillary-like channels, often accompanied by fibrosis. A detailed study of this entity, based on 76 cases, showed that the morphologic spectrum was much broader than that originally described. The vasoproliferative process caused variable expansion of the subcapsular, intermediate, and medullary sinuses of the lymph nodes and involved single or multiple lymph nodes in a diffuse or segmental fashion. The proliferated vessels formed anastomosing narrow clefts, rounded spaces of different sizes, plexiform channels, or solid spindled to plump cellular foci and often were associated with variable degrees of sclerosis. The vascular spaces were empty, filled with lymph-like fluid, congested with blood, or occasionally thrombosed; extravasation of red cells was common. Several patterns were commonly observed in an individual case. Less common features included perivascular fibrin deposition and the presence of eosinophilic globules. Vascular thrombosis was identified only rarely in extranodal vessels available for histologic assessment. The more cellular forms of this vascular transformation may be mistaken for Kaposi's sarcoma, but can be distinguished from it by the pure sinusoidal distribution, a lack of well-formed spindle cell fascicles, the associated fibrosis, the maturation of the spindle cells into well-formed vascular channels toward the capsular aspect, and the failure of this process to involve the capsule itself, which is frequently affected by Kaposi's sarcoma.

View details for Web of Science ID A1991FY36600003

View details for PubMedID 2069211

Abstract

Although previous studies have suggested a relatively poor prognosis for some patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma, the clinical significance of immunologic phenotype in diffuse large-cell lymphoma (DLCL) remains controversial. One hundred one patients with a uniform morphologic diagnosis of DLCL treated at Stanford between 1975 and 1986 with cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin (doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH), vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP), methotrexate, bleomycin, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dexamethasone ([M]BACOD), or methotrexate, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and bleomycin (MACOP-B) chemotherapy were studied with regard to immunologic phenotype. Immunologic analysis, performed on frozen or paraffin-embedded tissue, identified 77 cases of B-cell origin, 21 cases of T-cell origin, and three cases that lacked B-cell or T-cell markers. Analysis of complete remission (CR) rates (84% v 95%), 5-year actuarial freedom from disease progression (38% v 53%), and 5-year actuarial overall survival (52% v 79%) showed no statistically significant differences in prognosis between B- and T-cell patients, respectively. The 5-year actuarial survival of patients with stage IV T-cell DLCL (56%) also did not differ in a statistically significant way from stage IV B-cell patients (36%). We conclude that treatment selection for DLCL should not be based on immunologic phenotype alone.

View details for Web of Science ID A1991FY95900016

View details for PubMedID 1712837

Abstract

Inflammatory pseudotumor of lymph nodes (IPT), a recently described benign cause of lymphadenopathy, was studied in 14 patients using paraffin-section immunohistochemistry. All biopsies showed a proliferation of spindle cells (small blood vessels, histiocytes, and "activated" fibroblasts resembling myofibroblasts) containing a mixture of inflammatory cells without atypia and involving the connective tissue framework (hilum and sinuses) of the lymph node. Ten patients had additional histologic features of IPT originally described (extranodal extension, obliterative vasculitis, and endothelial infiltration), and nine of these had associated fever of unknown origin, which in some was relieved by biopsy alone. Additional features observed focally in some cases but not previously described included lymph node parenchymal infarction, fibrinoid vascular necrosis, karyorrhexis, and involvement of only part of the lymph node. Immunostaining showed the lymphoid infiltrate to be predominantly of T-lineage (except for plasma cells), only a minority of which marked as T-helper cells. Numerous mononuclear cells resembling histiocytes were identified, some of which had a spindled shape but reacted with an antibody (KP1) of myelomonocytic specificity. Large fibroblastic cells expressed alpha-muscle actin but not desmin, similar to myofibroblasts in granulation tissue. The morphologic and immunohistologic features were similar to those in inflammatory pseudotumors of spleens and livers also studied, but the lack of simultaneous lymph node involvement argued against a common etiology. The findings suggest that the mass lesion of IPT is produced in response to localized lymph node inflammation or injury and further exclude hematolymphoid or mesenchymal neoplasia as a cause.

View details for Web of Science ID A1991FY36600004

View details for PubMedID 2069212

Abstract

We have studied 36 cases of monocytoid B-cell lymphoma (MBCL). We confirm the predilection for females (30 of 36; ratio, five women to one man). The median age was 65 years (range, 29 to 85 years). Monocytoid B-cell lymphoma characteristically involves peripheral lymph nodes (30 of 36) with a propensity for paraparotid or intraparotid nodes. Salivary glands were affected in five patients. Other extranodal sites of involvement included breast, thyroid, stomach, and soft tissue of chest wall. Eight patients manifested with Sjögren's syndrome, one had systemic lupus erythematosus, one presented initially with Raynaud's phenomenon, and two had a monoclonal gammopathy. "Composite lymphomas" were encountered in seven patients. In addition, association with or progression to a higher-grade lymphoma, ie, mixed small and large cell (one) and large cell (six), was observed in seven patients and was associated with a more aggressive behavior of the lymphoma. Immunohistochemical studies performed on biopsy sections from 20 patients confirmed the B-cell nature of MBCL. An average reactivity of less than 10% of the monocytoid B cells with the proliferation marker Ki-67 was demonstrated, in keeping with the indolent behavior of MBCL. Despite our observation of follicular lymphomas frequently accompanying MBCL, the t(14;18) chromosomal translocation does not appear to play a pathogenetic role for MBCL, as determined by molecular studies for the t(14;18) chromosomal translocation and immunologic studies for the BCL2 protein. Our observations also provide support for the proposal that there is an overlap between MBCL and "MALT lymphomas" (those arising from mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue).

View details for Web of Science ID A1991GJ45100002

View details for PubMedID 2032691

Abstract

Primary mediastinal nonlymphoblastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NLNHL) has distinct clinical, histologic (diffuse large-cell morphology, often with sclerosis and clear cytoplasm), and immunohistochemical features (predominantly B-cell lineage, usually immunoglobulin-negative), which suggest origin from a unique B-cell population. The thymus has a resident population of B cells with a unique immunophenotype, and can be involved by primary mediastinal NLNHL, in some cases selectively. Fifteen cases of NLNHL involving the thymus were studied by paraffin-section immunohistochemistry using antibodies to formalin-resistant epitopes of B cells (4KB5 [CD45RA] and L26 [CD20]) and T cells (L60 [CD43] and UCHL1 [CD45RO]). All were diffuse large-cell or immunoblastic lymphomas with sclerosis, and were also similar to primary mediastinal NLNHL in clinical features. Neoplastic cells stained with L26 in all but one case, which stained with 4KB5 and an antibody to a leukocyte-common antigen (PD7/26 [CD45RB]), and were uniformly nonreactive with L60 (with one exception) and UCHL1. Intermingled small lymphocytes were uniformly L26-negative and positive for T-cell markers, even in one case with atypia suggesting a lymphoma of mixed morphology. These findings demonstrate that primary thymic and primary mediastinal NLNHL are similar B-lineage neoplasms, and support previous suggestions that both may originate in thymic B cells.

View details for Web of Science ID A1990EQ06200013

View details for PubMedID 2249839

Abstract

Using immunohistochemical methods, the authors studied the expression of pan-T- and majority-T-cell antigens (CD5, CD2, CD3, TCR-beta, CD7) and T-cell subset antigens (CD4, CD8) in cutaneous T cells in mycosis fungoides (MF) (177 biopsies from 124 patients) and a variety of inflammatory lesions (45 biopsies from 45 patients). The authors detected the absence of pan-T- or majority-T-cell antigens, or of both T-cell subset antigens, from T cells in the epidermis but not the dermis in 15 MF biopsies (8%) from 11 MF patients (9%), but in none of the inflammatory skin lesions. The opposite picture, characterized by lack of antigen expression by the dermal T cells only, was not seen in any of the MF or inflammatory lesions. The absence of antigen expression by epidermal but not dermal T cells, which the authors have termed antigen discordance, was most prevalent for CD5, CD7, and TCR-beta, each being discordant in 6% to 7% of MF cases or patients tested. Among the MF biopsies showing antigen discordance, 14 of 15 biospies (93%) from 10 of 11 patients (91%) were discordant for two or more antigens. Antigen discordance was not an artifact of treatment, because none of the patients showing discordance was receiving treatment at the time of their initial discordant biopsy. The discordance was the only immunophenotypic abnormality detected in 8 of 15 (53%) of the discordant MF biopsies. Thus, this antigen discordance was an important diagnostic feature that allowed the immunophenotypic distinction of MF from a variety of inflammatory skin lesions.

View details for Web of Science ID A1990EP24300020

View details for PubMedID 2260631

Abstract

Malignant histiocytosis (MH) is a term that has been used to describe a syndrome in which there is a systemic proliferation of cells that have the cytologic appearance of atypical histiocytes. Biopsy materials from 15 patients with malignant lymphoma diagnosed as malignant histiocytosis in a previous study reported in 1975 were analyzed by a panel of antibodies and reclassified using current nosologic concepts of malignant lymphoma. The antibodies used comprised reagents detecting a formalin-resistant epitope on B-cells (L26), T-cells (anti-CD3, anti-leu 22 [CD43], and UCHL1 [CD45RO]), monocyte/macrophage-derived cells (KP1 [CD68]), as well as antibodies that detect leukocyte common antigen (PD7 [CD45RB]), and a formalin-resistant epitope of Ki-1 (Ber-H2 [CD30]). The authors found that nine lymphomas had a profile consistent with T-lineage, including six in which Ki-1 (CD30) was coexpressed, and two were B-lineage. Three lymphomas showed no specific lineage characteristics although two were Ki-1 (CD30) positive, and none had expression of KP1 (CD68). The 12 lymph node biopsy specimens showed a variety of patterns of involvement, including sinusoidal, paracortical, and diffuse; the spleens showed predominantly red pulp involvement. A 15th case was believed most consistent with a virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome. These findings support previous suggestions that the majority of cases diagnosed as MH represent T-lineage-associated hematolymphoid neoplasms, and that only a rare case will be of monocyte/macrophage origin. It is suggested that the term MH be subsumed under the rubric of large cell lymphoma and unless there are compelling immunohistochemical data to support a histiocytic origin, that the term MH be abandoned in favor of a more accurate descriptive term, such as sinusoidal large cell lymphoma.

View details for Web of Science ID A1990DP79500020

View details for PubMedID 2194647

Abstract

Primary spindle cell neoplasms involving hematolymphoid organs are extremely rare. We present four cases of spindle cell neoplasms of unusual phenotype arising within lymph nodes. Two of the four cases showed morphologic and immunophenotypic features suggestive of interdigitating reticulum cell lineage; these cases expressed several macrophage antigens and S-100 protein but not CD1. The other two cases showed evidence suggestive of dendritic reticulum cell lineage. Both cases expressed HLA-DR, several macrophage antigens, complement receptors C3b and C3d; one case expressed R4/23; both showed the presence of desmosomes on ultrastructural examination. A germline configuration for the immunoglobulin heavy chain and beta-T--cell receptor genes was detected in all four cases. Of the two patients in the first group, one had local recurrence of tumor; the other died of widespread metastases. Of the two patients in the second group, both are alive and well at 12 and 27 months follow-up, respectively.

View details for Web of Science ID A1990DA42600001

View details for PubMedID 2158241

Abstract

In attempting to identify antigens that are differentially expressed on tumor cells following transformation from follicular small cleaved cell lymphoma (FSC) to immunoblastic lymphoma (IL), we identified a unique epitope of the transferrin receptor (TfR). The epitope is available for binding in aggressive lymphomas but not in indolent lymphomas or normal cells. An immunoglobulin G2a (IgG2a) antibody that binds this epitope, Trump, was produced by screening on tumor cells from a patient who initially had a low-grade lymphoma which subsequently converted to a high-grade lymphoma. Immunoprecipitation and comodulation studies show that Trump binds to the TfR, but blocking studies and immunostaining reveal that the TfR epitope seen by Trump is distinct from the OKT9 and anti-TfR binding sites. The ability of Trump to discriminate a separate population of more highly malignant cells suggests that the expression of the Trump epitope is determined by the state of activation or degree of malignancy of the cell. In addition, it may be possible to use the Trump antibody diagnostically or therapeutically in the management of lymphomas.

View details for Web of Science ID A1989CB88100017

View details for PubMedID 2479430

Abstract

Fifteen cases of cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia were studied immunohistologically with a large panel of monoclonal antibodies to determine their immunoarchitectural composition and to determine whether immunologic criteria recently proposed to identify lymphoma ever occur in benign skin lesions. All lesions were composed of T cells, polytypic B cells, macrophages, and Langerhans cells. Although only six cases containing lymphoid follicles were recognized in routinely stained sections, an additional five were identified in immunoperoxidase-stained sections. These follicles were of both the primary and secondary types and contained dendritic reticulum cell networks. The immunophenotypic features of these follicles were similar to those of reactive follicles in lymphoid organs and contrasted sharply with those reported previously for follicular lymphomas. Helper T cells were predominant in 11 cases. With regard to proposed criteria for T cell lymphoma, we did not detect loss of pan T cell antigens CD2, CD3, CD5, or BF-1, nor did we find populations of T cells with abnormal co-expression or loss of subset antigens such as CD4-8- or CD4+8+. Two cases in which relatively sparse infiltrates were present, however, were moderately CD7-deficient. This finding suggests that the CD7 criterion for cutaneous T cell neoplasia be modified in this situation. As observed previously, Leu-8 antigen deficiency was a common, nonspecific finding. With regard to proposed criteria for B cell lymphoma, we did not detect populations of B cells that were immunoglobulin-negative, nor did we observe preferential loss of one or more B-lineage antigens, histocompatibility complex-associated antigens, or lymphocyte function-associated antigens. We also did not identify any CD5+ B cells. On the basis of a comparison of our current data with prior studies of cutaneous lymphomas, we conclude that the immunologic findings recently proposed as general criteria for the differentiation of lymphoma from lymphoid hyperplasia are, in fact, applicable to cutaneous lymphoid lesions.

View details for Web of Science ID A1989AX59500005

View details for PubMedID 2808829

Abstract

Malignant lymphoma is frequently diagnosed when immunohistochemical techniques are applied to otherwise unclassified neoplasms. In this analysis of 35 patients with a histologically unclassified neoplasm that expressed leukocyte-common antigen(s) (LCA), actuarial survival was 63%, and 45% of patients were free from disease progression at 30 months following treatment as for lymphoma. The clinical features at diagnosis and the results of combination chemotherapy were found to be similar to a group of patients with a diagnosis of diffuse large-cell lymphoma (DLCL) concurrently treated at this institution. This study further emphasizes the importance of improved diagnostic techniques in the management of histologically unclassified tumors.

View details for Web of Science ID A1989AM61500015

View details for PubMedID 2671285

Abstract

Diffuse small-cell lymphomas of B-lineage comprise a group of immunophenotypically related lymphoid malignancies that display variable clinical aggressiveness. We compared a variety of clinical, pathologic, and immunologic characteristics of 64 B-lineage diffuse small-cell lymphomas to patient survival in an effort to define prognostically relevant subtypes of these neoplasms. Neither clinical parameters nor histological subclassification correlated with patient outcome. In contrast, three immunologic features of these lymphomas showed a statistically significant relationship with actuarial survival. Neoplasms that manifested greater than or equal to 25% Ki-67+ cells (proliferation-associated antigen), less than 25% Leu 4+ cells (pan-T antigen), or less than 15% Leu 3+ cells (helper/inducer T-subset antigen) were associated with significantly decreased patient survival as compared to neoplasms with the reverse phenotype (P = .02, P = .003, P = .0005, respectively). Leu 3 findings were of particular importance in initial biopsies (P = .0007), while the Ki-67 findings were significant regardless of time of biopsy (P = .01 for biopsies at diagnosis and P = .004 for other biopsies). These data indicate that immunologic analysis can demonstrate subsets of diffuse small-cell lymphoma with different biologic potential, and suggest that such analysis be included in the routine work-up of patients with this type of neoplasm.

View details for Web of Science ID A1989AG85900006

View details for PubMedID 2526862

Abstract

Using immunohistologic methods, we studied the expression of the T-cell receptor (TCR)-associated antigens CD3, TCR-beta, and TCR-delta by cutaneous T cells in mycosis fungoides (MF) (36 patients) and a variety of inflammatory diseases (16 patients). Most T cells in the inflammatory diseases and patch/plaque mycosis fungoides expressed the immunophenotype characteristic of the vast majority of mature peripheral T cells: CD3+ TCR-beta+ TCR-delta-. In contrast, abnormal CD3/TCR-beta antigen expression was seen in 3 of 6 cases (50%) of tumor stage mycosis fungoides. Furthermore, we were able to document its evolution from the normal pattern present in earlier patch/plaque lesions of the two cases in which serial biopsies were available for study. Divergence of epidermal versus dermal CD3/TCR-beta antigen expression was seen in 2 of 34 (6%) of biopsies of patch/plaque mycosis fungoides but not in inflammatory controls. The TCR-delta+ cells were generally rare regardless of diagnosis. We conclude that inflammatory skin diseases and most patch/plaque mycosis fungoides are typically composed of T lymphocytes that resemble mature peripheral T cells in regard to their expression of TCR-associated antigens. In contrast, aberrant patterns of TCR-associated antigen expression can be seen in tumor stage MF, and, more rarely in patch/plaque MF.

View details for Web of Science ID A1989AG41600020

View details for PubMedID 2473133

Abstract

Cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia (CLH) is a disorder characterized by the development of one or more skin lesions containing dense lymphoid infiltrates that exhibit the histopathologic features of a benign, reactive process. Nevertheless, some cases have been associated with the subsequent development of clinically overt lymphomas. This suggests that monoclonal populations may exist in some cases of CLH and that these cases may represent a subset more likely to evolve into lymphoma. To determine if such a subset of CLH can be distinguished, Southern blot analysis of DNA was used to study the immunogenotypic features of lesions from 14 patients with clinical, histopathologic, and immunopathologic findings characteristic of CLH. Five cases exhibited detectable clonal rearrangements of immunoglobulin genes. Furthermore, one of these five cases evolved into overt diffuse large cell lymphoma of B cell lineage during a 2-year follow-up of recurrent disease at the original cutaneous site. The immunoglobulin gene rearrangements of this lymphoma were identical to those of the prior CLH lesion. There was no evidence of detectable t(14;18) chromosomal translocations or clonal rearrangements of the beta gene of the T cell receptor in any case. It was concluded that CLH can be divided into two subsets based on the presence or absence of a clonal B cell population, and that overt lymphoma can arise from the former subset and contain the same B cell clone identified in the pre-existent CLH lesion.

View details for Web of Science ID A1989AP09500003

View details for PubMedID 2774056

Abstract

The recent availability of monoclonal antibodies immunoreactive to T- or B-lineage antigens in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue has permitted the adaptation of frozen-section immunodiagnostic criteria to paraffin-embedded tissue. Among a variety of reactive lymphoid processes, monoclonal antibody L26 showed a pattern of staining consistent with pan-B reactivity. Antibodies L60 (Leu-22) and UCHL-1 showed a pan-T and T-subset pattern of reactivity, respectively. In benign processes, L26 and L60 (or UCHL-1) were not coexpressed. In contrast, among 77 B-lineage non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, 42% showed aberrant co-expression of L26 and L60. The L26+/L60+ phenotype was most common in small lymphocytic lymphomas (80%) but was also noted in one third of diffuse large cell lymphomas. Expression of UCHL-1 was not identified in B-lineage neoplasms but was found, along with L60, on four of five T-lineage lymphomas studied as controls. The authors conclude that the anomalous coexpression of L60 and L26 antigens is a unique feature of B-lineage lymphomas and can be used for the immunodiagnosis of these malignancies in routinely processed tissue.

View details for Web of Science ID A1989U441300012

View details for PubMedID 2718958

Abstract

We used slot blot hybridization, Southern blot hybridization, and in situ hybridization to investigate the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genomes in biopsy tissues from patients with Hodgkin's disease. Slot blot hybridization performed on DNA of tissue specimens from 16 patients revealed that biopsy tissue from 3 (19 percent) contained EBV DNA. Southern blot hybridization with a DNA probe containing the 500-base-pair tandem repeated sequences located at the termini of the EBV genome confirmed the findings of the slot blot hybridization in the three positive tissue specimens and indicated the monoclonality of the EBV-infected cells in such tissues. In situ hybridization performed on the three positive specimens and on two from a previous study localized EBV nucleic acid to the Reed-Sternberg cells and variants in all specimens, with intense hybridization to Reed-Sternberg cells in two, less intense but consistent hybridization to Reed-Sternberg cells in two, and focal hybridization to Reed-Sternberg cells in one. We conclude that EBV genomes are present within Reed-Sternberg cells and variants in some patients with Hodgkin's disease and that the infected cells are monoclonal.

View details for Web of Science ID A1989T334000006

View details for PubMedID 2536894

Abstract

Lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) is a glycoprotein involved in virtually all aspects of the immune response requiring direct cell to cell contact. It has been suggested that lack of LFA-1 expression in lymphomas may represent a mechanism of escape from immunologic surveillance. We investigated the expression of LFA-1 in a series of more than 250 lymphoid neoplasms and reactive lymphoid proliferations using a frozen section immunoperoxidase technique. LFA-1 was expressed by all lymphoid populations in the reactive cases. In contrast, absence of LFA-1 alpha or beta chains was found in 44% of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, including 50% of B-cell lymphomas. These findings suggest that loss of LFA-1 expression may be of great use in the differential diagnosis of benign versus malignant lymphoproliferations. Eighty percent of initial biopsy specimens of low-grade lymphoma exhibited LFA-1 expression, whereas only 8% of recurrent specimens retained expression of both LFA-1 subunits. However, we found no correlation between LFA-1 expression and clinical course in a series of 64 patients with diffuse large cell lymphomas.

View details for Web of Science ID A1989R775500008

View details for PubMedID 2642732

Abstract

The "host cell infiltrates" in five patients with low-grade follicular lymphoma who had spontaneous regression without therapy were studied with the use of immunohistochemical methods applied to frozen sections. These infiltrates were compared with the "host cell infiltrates" in six patients with follicular lymphoma with progressive disease. The group with progressive disease was selected to be similar to the group with spontaneous regression in age, sex, histologic characteristics, and stage of disease. The patients with spontaneous regression had significantly more T-helper cells in the host cell infiltrate than the control patients. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in numbers of cytotoxic/suppressor T-cells, macrophages, Tac-positive cells, Leu-7-positive cells, or proliferating cells.

View details for Web of Science ID A1988P904100005

View details for PubMedID 2970792

Abstract

Recent studies in both human and murine systems have demonstrated the existence of a second CD3-associated T cell receptor (the gamma delta-TCR) distinct from the alpha beta heterodimer associated with antigen recognition by classical T cells. Using a monoclonal antibody specific for the delta component of the human gamma delta-TCR, the expression of this antigen in both benign, reactive lymphoid tissues and T lineage lymphomas was studied with immunohistologic techniques. In the normal thymus, TCR-delta+ cells constituted less than 5% of the CD3+ thymocytes and were located primarily in the medulla or juxtamedullary cortex. Within the T zones of 16 histologically varied reactive peripheral lymphoid tissues, including four patients with marked predominantly paracortical hyperplasia, the authors identified from less than 1% to a maximum of 5% TCR-delta+ cells. While these results are consistent with the hypothesis that TCR-gamma delta+ cells comprise a small distinct subpopulation of peripheral T cells in humans, selective localization or recruitment of these cells could not be demonstrated in any of a number of tissues or reactive situations. Among 62 T lineage lymphomas, including 14 CD3+/TCR-beta- cases, only two TCR-delta+ neoplasms were identified, both lymphoblastic lymphomas displaying the CD3+/CD4-/CD8- phenotype known to be associated with normal TCR-gamma delta+ T cells. Because the majority of CD3+/TCR-beta- lymphomas did not display TCR-delta, these results argue against the hypothesis that the high incidence of CD3/TCR-beta discordance noted in T lineage lymphomas represents preferential transformation of the TCR-delta-expressing subset.

View details for Web of Science ID A1988Q131200001

View details for PubMedID 3261945

Abstract

In an initial survey of 16 cases of Hodgkin's disease, tissues from one case of nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease, a recurrence with numerous Reed-Sternberg cells, demonstrated faint heavy- and light-chain immunoglobulin gene rearrangements. Analysis of seven additional similar cases with extremely numerous Reed-Sternberg cells revealed that six of these seven cases contained clonally rearranged heavy- or light-chain genes. In addition, the original biopsy specimen from the index case (obtained two years prior to the recurrence) had the same pattern of rearrangements of the immunoglobulin genes. In contrast, a germline configuration was observed for the beta T cell receptor gene in all cases. These cases of Hodgkin's disease were also investigated for the presence of Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) genomes by Southern and slot-blot DNA hybridization analysis. Tissues from four of the 21 case studied showed evidence of EBV DNA sequences. Uninvolved lymphoid tissue from two of the positive cases failed to demonstrate viral DNA. To assess clonality of the cells containing the EBV genomes, the tissues positive for EBV DNA were also hybridized with a restriction fragment probe for the terminal sequences of the EBV genome. By this analysis three of the four cases demonstrated a clonal population of EBV-infected cells.

View details for Web of Science ID A1988P552700005

View details for PubMedID 2841218

Abstract

In man, lymphocyte binding to high endothelial venules (HEVs) involves specific 85-95 kd cell surface glycoprotein(s) recognized by the monoclonal antibodies Hermes-1 and Hermes-3. These putative "homing receptor" molecule(s) are believed to play an important role in the normal regulation of lymphocyte circulation. To investigate the possibility that homing receptors also play a role in the biology of lymphoid malignancies, the authors studied over 300 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by immunohistologic staining with Hermes-1 and -3, antibodies that define two distinct epitopes on the gp 85-95 putative homing receptor molecules. Furthermore, they directly compared expression of the Hermes-3 antigen with clinical extent of disease in 57 patients with diffuse large cell lymphoma. They found that staining of the various subtypes of lymphoma was heterogeneous, and in general correlated with patterns of expression seen in benign lymphoid populations. Essentially all normal lymphoid populations examined, except germinal center B cells and most cortical thymocytes, bear a high level of homing receptor antigen. Similarly, nearly all peripheral T-cell lymphomas, diffuse small cell lymphomas of B lineage, and plasma cell tumors were positive for homing receptor antigen (95%, 97%, and 100%, respectively). Small noncleaved cell, follicular, and diffuse large cell lymphomas of B lineage, tumors having morphologic or immunologic features resembling germinal center cells, frequently failed to express Hermes-defined epitopes (81%, 41%, 25% Hermes-3-, respectively). Antigen expression in T-lymphoblastic lymphomas strongly correlated with immunophenotypic subtypes: only 8% of CD4+/CD8+ were Hermes-1+ versus 86% of CD4-/CD8- and 43% of CD4+/CD8-. Hermes-3 expression by cases of diffuse, large cell lymphoma which showed generalized lymph node involvement (a pattern strongly suggestive of HEV-mediated spread; 100% Hermes-3+, mean intensity 3.4) was higher than that of cases with localized or multifocal, contiguous involvement (consistent with lymphatic spread; 69% Hermes-3+, mean intensity 2.2), but these differences did not achieve statistical significance. The results indicate that homing receptor antigen expression, although perhaps necessary for wide-spread blood-borne lymphoma dissemination to lymphoid sites, is not in and of itself sufficient to predict such behavior in this subtype of lymphoid malignancy.

View details for Web of Science ID A1988M609900010

View details for PubMedID 2450463

Abstract

The authors studied 48 cases of well-differentiated lymphocytic neoplasms using a panel of monoclonal antibodies applied to frozen sections. Forty-seven tumors expressed monotypic immunoglobulin, one or more B-lineage antigens, and Ia (HLA-DR) antigen. Proliferation centers expressed the T9 antigen and increased numbers of Ki-67-positive cells. One tumor was of T-cell origin, had a cytotoxic/suppressor cell phenotype, and showed anomalous loss of Leu-1 antigen. Immunophenotypic findings were correlated to the clinical presentation and morphologic features of each neoplasm. Sixteen tumors were associated with peripheral lymphocytosis (greater than 4000/cu mm), 13 biopsies were obtained from extranodal sites, 16 tumors had proliferation centers, and 11 neoplasms had plasmacytoid features. The authors found no absolute and few statistically significant immunologic differences between the B-cell tumors according to their clinical presentation or morphologic features. Tumors associated with peripheral lymphocytosis more commonly expressed the Leu-1 antigen (P less than 0.01) and IgD (P less than 0.01) and less frequently were stained by BA-2 (P less than 0.05) and OKT9 (P less than 0.05). Plasmacytoid neoplasms more frequently expressed the Tac (P less than 0.01) and T9 antigens (P less than 0.05), and all expressed kappa light chain (P less than 0.05). Extranodal neoplasms more commonly expressed IgM (P less than 0.01). In contrast to the markedly different clinical presentation and morphologic appearance these tumors may have, the immunologic data suggest that B-cell small lymphocytic neoplasms are relatively homogeneous. For an individual case, immunophenotype does not predict clinical presentation or morphologic features.

View details for Web of Science ID A1987L369400015

View details for PubMedID 3322023

Abstract

Using an immunoperoxidase technique that identifies both surface and cytoplasmic antigen expression, the authors examined 28 benign reactive lymphorproliferative lesions and 55 T-lineage lymphomas for reactivity with CD3 (Leu-4; T-cell receptor-associated antigen) and beta F1 antibodies, the latter recognizing nonpolymorphic determinants on T-cell receptor beta chains. Consistent with previous observations that these two antigens are co-expressed on the vast majority of thymocytes, peripheral blood T cells and tonsillar T cells, all 28 reactive lymphoproliferations showed essentially identical patterns of CD3 and beta F1 expression. In contrast, only 29 of 55 T-lineage lymphomas displayed coexpression of these antigens. Among 33 peripheral T-cell lymphomas, 11 cases showed CD3/beta F1 discordance (7 CD3+/beta F1-; 4 CD3-/beta F1+), and 5 showed absence of both these antigens. Nine of 22 T-lymphoblastic lymphomas showed CD3/beta F1 discordance (all CD3+/beta F1-), and 1 case was CD3-/beta F1-. These patterns of CD3/beta F1 expression, along with the patterns of CD2, CD4, CD5, CD7, and CD8 antigen expression in these neoplasms, indicate that T-cell lymphomas can manifest phenotypes not apparently reflective of normal T populations and suggest the presence of abnormal gene expression in these malignancies. The existence of aberrant phenotypes in T-cell neoplasia suggests caution in interpretation of investigations using T-lineage malignancies as models of normal T-cell biology. Finally, the identification of phenotypic abnormalities in T-lineage populations can be of great diagnostic usefulness in the delineation of benign versus malignant T-cell proliferations.

View details for Web of Science ID A1987L369400006

View details for PubMedID 3501243

Abstract

The Ki-67 antibody, a monoclonal antibody that reacts with nuclei in actively proliferating cells, was used in an immunohistochemical study to assess the growth fractions of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and related disorders. The lowest proliferative indices were found in small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia and intermediate lymphocytic/mantle zone lymphoma. An intermediate proliferative index was seen in the follicular lymphomas and diffuse small cleaved cell and diffuse mixed cell lymphomas. A high index was seen in the diffuse large cell lymphoma and lymphoblastic lymphoma. The highest and most consistent proliferative index was seen in small noncleaved cell lymphoma. Cases of reactive follicular hyperplasia had a significantly higher proliferative index than those of follicular lymphoma. We conclude that the Ki-67 antibody has great utility in providing an estimate of the proliferative rate of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Prospective studies may show this information to have prognostic value independent of histologic classification.

View details for Web of Science ID A1987K774200013

View details for PubMedID 3679189

Abstract

Tissue specimens from 21 cases of Hodgkin's disease were examined for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus DNA by molecular hybridization techniques. EBV DNA was detected in 4 cases, including 2 of 8 cases which had been previously shown to contain clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangements. Two of the cases containing EBV DNA were of the nodular sclerosing type and had received prior therapy; the other 2 were classified as mixed cellularity Hodgkin's disease and had not received therapy before the biopsy tissue was obtained. Analyses of the terminal portions of EBV genomes indicated a monoclonal or oligoclonal proliferation of EBV-infected cells in the tissues studied. In contrast, none of the 21 cases had detectable cytomegalovirus DNA sequences. The identification of EBV DNA may reflect the proliferation of lymphoblastoid cells due to the reduced immune competence frequently noted in Hodgkin's disease or may indicate the presence of EBV genomes within Reed-Sternberg cells.

View details for Web of Science ID A1987K355500010

View details for PubMedID 2821817