title: The t(14;18) and bcl-2 expression are present in a subset of primary cutaneous follicular lymphoma: association with lower grade.
abstract: According to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer classification, primary cutaneous follicle center cell lymphoma is not associated with the t(14;18)(q32;q21) and only rarely expresses bcl-2 protein. To further investigate this issue, we evaluated a series of 20 patients (14 men, 6 women) with primary cutaneous follicular lymphoma (PCFL). The presenting skin lesion was located in the head and neck region in 16 of 20 patients. Most cases were grade 2 (6/20) or grade 3 (13/20), and all had a follicular architecture. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated bcl-2 expression in 8 cases (40%), and expression was inversely related to the grade. Of 7 grade 1 or 2 cases, 5 (71%) were positive, whereas only 3 (23%) of 13 grade 3 cases were positive for bcl-2. Clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangements were detected in 9 (45%) of 20 cases. In 4 (20%) of 20 cases, we identified the major breakpoint of the t(14;18) by polymerase chain reaction, 3 of which were grade 1 or 2. We conclude that bcl-2 protein expression and the t(14;18) are present in a subset of PCFL, particularly in lower grade cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha 68198-3135, USA.
authors.forename: Lyle C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lawnicki
authors.forename: Dennis D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Weisenburger
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aoun
authors.forename: Wing C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Wickert
authors.forename: Timothy C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Greiner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000737:chemistry; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D015342:DNA Probes; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2