Molecular characterization of Warthin tumor.
OBJECTIVE
Warthin tumor of the salivary gland is composed of oncocytic epithelium with a prominent follicular lymphoid infiltrate. The purpose of this study was to characterize the clonality of this lymphoid component by means of polymerase chain reaction technology.


METHODS
DNA was isolated from paraffin-embedded tissue from 20 cases of typical Warthin tumor of the salivary gland and amplified by polymerase chain reaction to assess B- and T-cell clonality.


RESULTS
No dominant clonal populations were identified in any tumor. However, minor clonal expansions of both B and T cells were detected in up to 50% of tumors (immunoglobulin H, 50%; T-cell antigen receptor beta, 10%; T-cell antigen receptor gamma, 5%). No tumors showed evidence of bcl-2 proto-oncogene translocation, whereas 95% contained detectable Epstein-Barr virus DNA.


CONCLUSIONS
The B- and T-cell components of Warthin tumor are polyclonal with oligoclonal expansion of both T and B cells in some lesions.
Takezawa
K
K
Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI, USA.
Jackson
C
C
Gnepp
D R
DR
King
T C
TC
D000235:Adenolymphoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000473:pathology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000032:analysis; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008967:Molecular Biology; D010307:Parotid Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta