title: Gamma-delta T-cell lymphomas.
abstract: Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (TCLs) are uncommon neoplasms, accounting for about 12% of all lymphoid tumors worldwide. TCLs in which gammadelta T-cell receptors are expressed (gammadelta TCLs) are extremely aggressive and rare (<1% of lymphoid neoplasms). gammadelta TCLs originate from gammadelta T cells, a small subset of peripheral T cells with direct antigen recognition capability acting at the interface between innate and adaptive immunity. Two distinct gammadelta TCL entities are recognized: hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTL) and primary cutaneous gammadelta T-cell lymphoma (PCGD-TCL). HSTL is a well-characterized extranodal lymphoma that has a disguised onset, secondary to intrasinusoidal infiltration of the spleen, liver and bone marrow, has a rapidly progressive course that is poorly responsive to chemotherapy, and often ensues in the setting of immune system suppression. PCGD-TCL can present with prominent epidermal involvement or with a panniculitis-like clinical picture that can be complicated by a concurrent hemophagocytic syndrome; the disease shows biological and phenotypic overlap with other extranodal gammadelta TCLs that involve the respiratory or gastrointestinal tract mucosa. The regular application of phenotypic and molecular techniques is crucial for the diagnosis of gammadelta TCLs. In this Review, we discuss the clinical and biological features, the diagnostic challenges and the therapeutic perspectives of HSTL and PCGD-TCL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. tripodo@unipa.it
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tripodo
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Iannitto
authors.forename: Ada Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Florena
authors.forename: Carlo Ennio
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Pucillo
authors.forename: Pier Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Piccaluga
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Stefano Aldo
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pileri
mesh_terms: D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016694:Gene Rearrangement, delta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / Q000235:genetics; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016410:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D016411:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta