Expression of TCL1 and CD27 in primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas

• Published in: Histopathology 2006-10, Vol.49 (4), p.343-348
• Main Authors: Pescarmona, E, Remotti, D, Perez, M, Monaco, S, Pacchiarotti, A, Faraggiana, T, Russo, G, Baroni, C D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: B-cell lymphoma; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers, Tumor - analysis; CD27; Gene Expression; Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte; Genes, Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lymphoma, B-Cell - metabolism; Medical sciences; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - biosynthesis; skin; Skin Neoplasms - metabolism; TCL1; Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 - biosynthesis
• ISSN: 0309-0167; 1365-2559
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2006.02506.x

Aims To investigate by immunohistochemical analysis the expression of the TCL1 oncogene product and of CD27 in 25 cases of primary cutaneous B‐cell lymphomas (PCBCL) classified according to the World Health Organization–European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer classification of cutaneous lymphomas. In B‐cell ontogenesis TCL1 is mainly expressed by ‘naive’ B lymphocytes and by a subset of germinal centre B cells, whereas CD27 is expressed by a subset of germinal centre B cells, ‘memory’ B lymphocytes and plasma cells, suggesting that their expression in physiological conditions is mutually exclusive. Methods and results Overall, TCL1 was expressed in 5/25 cases (20%) and CD27 in 15/25 cases (60%). Furthermore, 7/25 cases (28%) were TCL1– and CD27– and 2/25 cases (8%) were TCL1+ and CD27+. In particular, primary cutaneous follicle‐centre lymphomas (10 cases) showed a variable expression of both TCL1 and CD27, whereas primary cutaneous marginal‐zone B‐cell lymphomas (eight cases) showed, with the exception of a single case, a definite CD27+/TCL1– profile. Conclusions These findings indicate: (i) the TCL1 oncogene product is uncommonly expressed in PCBCL (20% of cases, mainly of the follicle‐centre subtype); (ii) in contrast, CD27 is often expressed in PCBCL (60% of cases), mainly of the marginal‐zone subtype; (iii) the coexpression of TCL1 and CD27 may be seldom observed in PCBCL (8% of cases); (iv) PCBCL does not seem to show, in terms of either TCL1 or CD27 expression, significant differences compared with its systemic counterparts.