title: CD94 transcripts imply a better prognosis in nasal-type extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma.
abstract: Transcription of natural killer (NK) cell antigen receptors (NKRs), such as CD94, NKG2, and killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs), is developmentally regulated and clonally distributed. We have shown a restricted KIR repertoire (rKIR-R) without monoclonal T-cell receptor rearrangement (mTCR-R) supports a NK lineage in nasal-type extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (NTENL) but does not correlate with clinical outcomes. Developing NK cells express first CD94, then NKG2A, NKG2E, and finally NKG2C. This sequence suggests an immature CD94- and a mature CD94+ subtype of NTENL. Using a rKIR-R without a mTCR-R as a criterion in 25 cases of NTENL, we confirmed a true NK lineage in 19 cases, including 10 CD94+ and 9 CD94- patients by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Eight of the 10 CD94+ patients but only 2 of the 9 CD94- patients survived beyond 1 year (median survival, 60 months versus 10 months by Meier-Kaplan survival analysis, P =.026 by Cox F test). The remaining 6 patients had a rKIR-R plus a mTCR-R, suggesting mixed NK/T differentiation. They were CD94- by RT-PCR, found predominantly in young women, and had a median survival of 35 months. Thus, on the basis of the transcripts of NKRs, a division of NTENLs into CD94+, CD94-, and mixed NK/T types reflects a true biologic divergence with different clinical behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chung-Wu
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yu-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yi-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Ting-Yun
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Su-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hsu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000502:physiology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000235:genetics*; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C527054:KLRC1 protein, human; C527059:KLRC2 protein, human; C527062:KLRC3 protein, human; C497869:KLRD1 protein, human; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D055654:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily C; D051920:NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily D; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; D055607:Receptors, Natural Killer Cell