Aggressive NK cell lymphoma/leukemia with clonal der(3)t(1;3) (q12;p25), del(6)(q13) and del(13)(q12q14)

We describe a 54-year-old man with CD2, CD7, and CD56-positive but CD3, CD4 , and CD8-negative aggressive NK cell lymphoma/leukemia. Chromosome analysi s of the peripheral blood cells showed clonal aberration consisting of 46,X Y,dip(3)(p21p25),der(3)t(1;3)(q12;p25),del(5)(ql3q22), del(6)(q13),del(13)( q12q14). The peripheral blood lymphoma cells contained clonal EBV-DNA by So uthern blot analysis. The disease was refractory to chemotherapy and the cl inical course was aggressive and rapid. Deletion 6q and deletion 13q have b een frequently reported in NK cell lymphoma/leukemia. Thus, some tumor supp ressor genes involving NK cell malignancies may be present in these regions . (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.