T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma: a heterogeneous entity with derivation from germinal center B cells.
T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (THRLBCL) is an unusual morphologic variant of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We reviewed 30 cases of THRLBCL to evaluate its heterogeneity based on morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genetic features. Cases were classified according to the appearance of the large neoplastic B cells into three morphologic variants: 1) lymphocytic and histiocytic (L&H-like) (resembling the L&H cells of nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's lymphoma (14 cases); 2) centroblast (or immunoblast)-like (10 cases), and 3) Reed-Sternberg cell-like (resembling the neoplastic cells of classic Hodgkin's lymphoma) (6 cases). We used a panel of immunohistochemical stains, including those with specificity for germinal center B cells: CD20, CD79a, CD30, CD15, epithelial membrane antigen, BCL-2, BCL-6, and CD10. The /JH polymerase chain reaction assay was further performed to investigate a relationship to follicular lymphoma. The results were correlated with Epstein-Barr virus status as determined by staining for latent membrane protein and EBER-1 in situ hybridization. All cases were of B-cell immunophenotype with strong surface CD20 reactivity in the neoplastic large lymphoid cells, although CD79a was more inconsistently and weakly expressed (10 of 17). Nuclear positivity for the BCL-6 protein was detected in the tumor cells in 26 of 29 (90%) cases. However, differences in expression of other antigens were encountered in the histologic subtypes. Epithelial membrane antigen positivity, a feature often seen in nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's lymphoma, was observed in 11 of 30 (37%) cases and was most commonly seen in cases with L&H cell morphology (8 of 14; 57%). CD30 expression was observed in 9 of 30 (30%) cases but was most frequent in cases with Reed-Sternberg-like morphology (3 of 6 [50%]). CD10 expression was infrequent overall (3 of 29; 10%), with 2 of 3 positive cases identified in the centroblastic group. The overall rarity of positivity for CD10, BCL-2 (3 of 22; 13%), and -2 JH rearrangement (1 of 28; 4%) indicates a lack of connection to follicular lymphoma for all subtypes. The three cases that were negative for BCL-6 protein were LMP-1 positive and EBER-1 positive by in situ hybridization, and 2 of 3 had neoplastic cells with Reed-Sternberg-like morphology. These results demonstrate that although a large proportion of THRLBCL represent tumors of germinal center B cell derivation, they exhibit a diversity of morphologic and immunophenotypic features. A subset of THRLBCL may be related to nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin's lymphoma. A small percentage show features closely resembling classic Hodgkin's lymphoma and could be considered a variant of grey zone lymphoma.
Lim
Megan S
MS
Hematopathology Section, Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Beaty
Michael
M
Sorbara
Lynn
L
Cheng
Richard Z
RZ
Pittaluga
Stefania
S
Raffeld
Mark
M
Jaffe
Elaine S
ES
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006644:Histiocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D016539:Reed-Sternberg Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D014157:Transcription Factors