title: Immunophenotypic and genetic characteristics of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common lymphoma type. The immunophenotypic and genetic features of DLBCL in Taiwan have not been characterized.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we performed immunohistochemical analysis and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using tissue microarray sections to investigate a cohort of unselected DLBCL cases in a single institution in Taiwan from 1990 to 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 153 cases investigated, CD10, bcl-6, and MUM1 were expressed in 16.3%, 71.2%, and 71.9% cases, respectively, with 27.5% (n = 42) of cases being classified as having a germinal center B-cell (GCB) origin by the Hans algorithm. By FISH analysis, 19.6%, 4.6%, 26.1%, and 3.9% cases showed rearrangement at IGH, BCL2, BCL6, and MYC loci, respectively, including three (2.0%) cases of double-hit lymphoma. As compared with the non-GCB tumors, GCB tumors more frequently expressed CD10 (p < 0.001) and bcl-6 (p = 0.001) with less frequent expression of MUM1 (p = 0.007). Moreover, GCB tumors more frequently exhibited rearrangement at the BCL2 (p = 0.024) and MYC (p = 0.038) loci than non-GCB tumors. However, there was no survival difference between these two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this first series of DLBCL evaluation from Taiwan, we found that the relative frequency of GCB tumors among DLBCL was low in most East Asian countries. There is a wide range of BCL2 rearrangement rates, higher in the West and lower in East Asia. A larger and/or national study is warranted to better understand the immunophenotypic and molecular features of DLBCL in Taiwan and their respective impact on patient survival.
authors: Department of Pathology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Nursing, National Tainan Institute of Nursing, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors: Sheng-Tsung
authors: ST
authors: Chang
authors: Division of Hemato-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Taiwan.
authors: Shang-Wen
authors: SW
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Medical Research, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors: Chung-Han
authors: CH
authors: Ho
authors: Department of Pathology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors: Chun-Chi
authors: CC
authors: Kuo
authors: Pathology Project for Molecular Targets, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Seiji
authors: S
authors: Sakata
authors: Pathology Project for Molecular Targets, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan; Division of Pathology, the Cancer Institute Hospital, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Kengo
authors: K
authors: Takeuchi
authors: Department of Pathology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Pathology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pathology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: cmh5301@mail.chimei.org.tw.
authors: Shih-Sung
authors: SS
authors: Chuang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D018858:Germinal Center / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015996:Survival Rate; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Taiwan; diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; fluorescence in situ hybridization; germinal center B cell; immunohistochemistry