Aggressive large B-cell lymphoma with plasma cell differentiation: immunohistochemical characterization of plasmablastic lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with partial plasmablastic phenotype.
BACKGROUND
Plasmablastic lymphoma has recently come to be considered a distinct entity among mature B cell neoplasms, although the limits with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) need to be more accurately defined.


METHODS
Here we show the results of an immunohistochemical study of 35 cases of plasmablastic lymphoma compared with a set of 111 conventional DLBCLs.


RESULTS
Our results demonstrate that the use of a limited combination of immunohistochemical markers (PAX5&CD20, PRDM1/BLIMP1 and XBP1s) enables the identification of a plasmablastic immunophenotype highly characteristic of plasmablastic lymphoma cases and associated with an aggressive clinical behavior. Additionally, the study shows that the acquisition of a partial plasmablastic phenotype (PRDM1/BLIMP1 expression) in DLBCL is associated with shorter survival in R-CHOP-treated patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of a restricted combination of immunohistochemical markers (PAX5&CD20, PRDM1/BLIMP1 and XBP1s) enables a more accurate definition of terminal differentiation for large B-cell lymphoma.
Montes-Moreno
Santiago
S
Lymphoma Group, Molecular Pathology Programme Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, CNIO, Madrid, Spain. smontes@cnio.es
Gonzalez-Medina
Ana-Rosa
AR
Rodriguez-Pinilla
Socorro-María
SM
Maestre
Lorena
L
Sanchez-Verde
Lydia
L
Roncador
Giovanna
G
Mollejo
Manuela
M
García
Juan F
JF
Menarguez
Javier
J
Montalbán
Carlos
C
Ruiz-Marcellan
M Carmen
MC
Conde
Eulogio
E
Piris
Miguel A
MA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000378:metabolism; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D051757:PAX5 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D000074462:Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D018951:Antigens, CD20; D051757:PAX5 Transcription Factor; C497281:PAX5 protein, human; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C087042:PRDM1 protein, human; D000074462:Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1