title: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive large B-cell lymphoma: description of a case with an unexpected clinical outcome.
abstract: Anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK-positive) large B-cell lymphoma is a rare and aggressive variant of large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), first reported by Delsol et al in 1997, showing distinctive morphologic, immunophenotypic and cytogenetic features. The latest 2008 World Health Organization Classification of Tumours of Haematopoietic and Lymphoid tissues recognizes ALK-positive LBCL as a separate entity. Here, we report a case of ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma in a 53-year-old man with diffuse abdominal and mediastinal lymph-nodes involvement. According to the Ann Arbor staging system, the patient had a stage IIIB lymphoma. The age-adjusted International Prognostic Index was 2 (stage III and elevated lactate dehydrogenase), so the disease was considered high risk. The patient underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and an autologous stem cell transplantation. The patient is alive and free of disease 35 months after diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology Unit, IRCSS Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanelli
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology Unit, IRCSS Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valli
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology Unit, IRCSS Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Capodanno
authors.affiliation: Anatomic Pathology Unit, IRCSS Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy moira.ragazzi@asmn.re.it.
authors.forename: Moira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ragazzi
authors.affiliation: Hematology Unit, IRCSS Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ascani
mesh_terms: D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005047:Etoposide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; C000626173:ALK protein, human; D000077548:Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D007069:Ifosfamide; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: ALK positivity; ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma; anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK); immunohistochemistry; large B-cell lymphoma; t(2; 17)