Blastoid variants of mantle cell lymphoma: frequent bcl-1 rearrangements at the major translocation cluster region and tetraploid chromosome clones.
Sixty-four cases of mantle cell (centrocytic) non-Hodgkin's lymphomas have been analyzed for their cytomorphologic features, proliferation indices, bcl-1 rearrangements, p53 expression patterns, and DNA content by both interphase cytogenetic and DNA flow cytometric analyses. According to cytomorphology, three subtypes were recognized: a common, a lymphoblastoid, and a pleomorphic variant of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Blastoid MCL subtypes were characterized by distinctly elevated mitotic counts (57 and 51/10 HPF v 21/10 high-power fields in common MCL), proliferation indices (58% and 53% v 27% in common types, respectively; P < .001), frequent bcl-1 rearrangements at the major translocation cluster locus (59% v 40%), and overexpression of p53 (21% v 6%). However, the most interesting finding was a striking tendency of blastoid MCL subtypes to harbor chromosome numbers in the tetraploid range (36% of lymphoblastoid and 80% of pleomorphic types v 8% of common variants, P < .001), a feature clearly separating these neoplasms from other types of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and possibly being related to cyclin D1 overexpression. Our data indicate that, although characterized by a uniform immunophenotype and common biologic background, MCL shows a broad spectrum of morphologic features ranging from small cell to blastoid types and that the morphologic spectrum is mirrored by distinct biologic features.
Ott
G
G
Department of Pathology, University of Würzburg, Germany.
Kalla
J
J
Ott
M M
MM
Schryen
B
B
Katzenberger
T
T
Müller
J G
JG
Müller-Hermelink
H K
HK
D002455:Cell Division; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002880:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000473:pathology; D019938:Cyclin D1; D016213:Cyclins / Q000502:physiology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D011123:Polyploidy; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D016213:Cyclins; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019938:Cyclin D1