S. Yegappan et al., Follicular lymphoma with marginal zone differentiation: Microdissection demonstrates the t(14;18) in both the follicular and marginal zone components, MOD PATHOL, 14(3), 2001, pp. 191-196
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Research/Laboratory Medicine & Medical Tecnology","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
On occasion, follicle center lymphomas (FCL) may contain a marginal-zone (M
Z) component in which the interfollicular lymphoid cells take on an MZ cell
morphology. In the past, these have been termed composite lymphomas. Howev
er, recent studies suggest that the two components are clonally related. It
is unknown whether the bcl-2 translocation present in most FCLs is present
in the cells that demonstrate MZ cell morphology, We have identified three
cases of low-grade FCL with a MZ component suitable for laser capture micr
odissection (LCM) of the two components. Cases were immunophenotyped in par
affin section with antibodies to CD10, CD20, bcl-2, and bcl-6. LCM was done
to isolate cells from each component. Polymerase chain reaction for t(14;1
8) using primers to the major breakpoint region was performed on DNA extrac
ts. The sensitivity of the PCR assay was decreased to 5%-10% follicle cente
r cells in a background of reactive tonsil cells. All three cases showed di
fferent phenotypes in each component. The FCL component was positive for al
l four of the above markers, whereas the MZ component expressed only CD20 a
nd bcl-2. Both components showed t(14;18) amplicons of identical size, with
the MZ component signal being stronger than the 5%-10% sensitivity control
, suggesting that the signal was not from rare, contaminating FCL cells. Th
ese results confirm that both components are clonally related and support t
he theory that these are indeed FCLs with MZ differentiation (that retain t
he t(14;18)) rather than the reverse, MZ lymphoma with follicle center diff
erentiation.