Immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region family expression in primary cutaneous follicle centre cell lymphomas

Background Primary cutaneous follicle centre cell lymphomas (PCFCCL) are th e most common type of primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas. Patients with thi s disorder develop one or a few clinically indolent tumour nodules, plaques , or papules confined to a circumscribed area. Only limited data have so fa r been published on the use of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region ( VH) families by these tumours. Objectives Because the definition of the repertoire of VH genes could have significant biological and diagnostic implications, we evaluated a group of patients with PCFCCL for VH family use. Methods DNA obtained from 15 cases of PCFCCL was amplified by polymerase ch ain reaction (PCR) using a panel of VK family-specific amplimers. Results The pattern of VH family usage was similar to that reported in both normal peripheral blood B cells and the most common low grade non-Hodgkin' s lymphomas, where VH region utilization is essentially random with frequen t usage of the VH3 family. Conclusions These findings support the hypothesis that PCFCCL mag derive fr om the mature peripheral lymphoid compartment. Our results may also have im plications for the routine analysis of B-lymphoid clonality in PCFCCL.