title: Lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's lymphoma: distinctive tumor and microenvironment markers.
abstract: The existence, diagnostic features, and the biological and clinical relevance of lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's lymphoma remain controversial. A comparative marker analysis of lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's lymphoma, nodular lymphocyte-predominance Hodgkin's lymphoma, and of other subtypes of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma was carried out. Markers were selected focusing on B-cell lineage and transcription program (OCT.1, OCT.2, BOB.1, BCL6, PAX-5, GCET1, KLHL6, and BLIMP1), the NF-kappaB signaling pathway (REL-B, C-REL, TRAF-1, p-50, and MUM-1) and the T-cell microenvironment (CD3, CD57, PD-1, CXCL-13, and CD10, BCL-6, CD23). Lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's lymphoma cases displayed features intermediate between those of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma and nodular lymphocyte-predominance Hodgkin's lymphoma. The expression of B-cell transcription factors such as OCT.1, OCT.2, BOB.1, and BCL6 was more frequent in lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's lymphoma than in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. A follicular T-cell microenvironment was also identified in 50% of lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's lymphoma cases. NF-kB markers were expressed at frequencies comparable with those observed in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. The neoplastic cell immunophenotype and microenvironment in lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's lymphoma closely mimic that which are observed in the outer zone of the germinal center, where B-cell blasts with germinal-center markers co-express CD30 and the B-cell transcription program, surrounded by follicular T-cell rosettes. Lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's lymphoma seems to be characterized by a stronger expression of the B-cell transcription program by the neoplastic cells and by a follicular T-cell background, occupying an intermediate position between classical Hodgkin's lymphoma and nodular lymphocyte-predominance Hodgkin's lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: [ Department of Pathology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Albacete, Albacete, Spain. tnamcha@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Syong H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Nam-Cha
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montes-Moreno
authors.forename: Maria T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Salcedo
authors.forename: Josefina
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanjuan
authors.forename: Juan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Piris
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016328:NF-kappa B