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Thymic lymphoblastic lymphoma of committed natural killer cell precursor origin: A case report
Author(s) -
Ichinohasama Ryo,
Endoh Kazuyasu,
Ishizawa Kenichi,
Okuda Mitsutaka,
Kameoka Junichi,
Meguro Kuniaki,
Myers Jerome,
Kadin Marshall E.,
Mori Shigeo,
Sawai Takashi
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19960615)77:12<2592::aid-cncr25>3.0.co;2-m
Subject(s) - terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase , cd5 , cd3 , lymphoblastic lymphoma , natural killer cell , cd8 , cd20 , cd33 , immunophenotyping , medicine , pathology , biology , immunology , cytotoxic t cell , microbiology and biotechnology , lymphoma , cancer research , cd34 , t cell , antigen , stem cell , immunohistochemistry , immune system , biochemistry , tunel assay , in vitro
BACKGROUND Recently, it was demonstrated that the human fetal thymocyte contains a bipotential progenitor capable of both T lymphocyte and natural killer (NK) cell differentiation. However, prior to this report a malignant neoplasm arising from these cells had not been documented. METHODS A Japanese female age 38 years was examined by morphology of light and electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, 3‐color flow cytometry, cytotoxic assay, and Southern blotting. RESULTS The patient presented with a mediastinal mass and pleural effusion. Leukemic progression was identified following chemotherapy and complete clinical remission. Immunophenotyping of lymphoma revealed CD45 ++ , c‐kit dim+ , terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) −;ch+ , CD38 ++ , CD34 +;ch++ , CD33 +<− , CD13 dim+∼+ , HLA‐DR + , CD7 + , cytoplasmic CD3 (cCD3) + , surface CD3 (sCD3) − , CD2 dim+ , CD56 + , CD16 − , CD11b + , CD57 − , CD1a − , CD5 − , TCRαβ − , TCRγδ − , CD4 − , CD8 − , CD28 − , CD10 − , CD19 − , CD20 − , CD22 − , surface immunoglobulins − , and CD14 − . Functional NK activity of the lymphoma cells was extremely low. DNA analysis revealed no gene rearrangement in TCR β, γ, and δ or immunoglobulin heavy and light chain genes. CONCLUSIONS Lymphoma cells of this case were derived from a distinct subtype of lymphocyte that originate from a thymic precursor committed to NK cell differentiation. This category is different from those of thymic T or precursor B cell pheno‐/genotype. Cancer 1996;77:2592‐603.