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CD45RA+ immunophenotype in mycosis fungoides: clinical, histological and immunophenotypical features in 22 patients
Author(s) -
Fierro M. T.,
Novelli M.,
Savoia P.,
Cambieri I.,
Quaglino P.,
OsellaAbate S.,
Bernengo M. G.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of cutaneous pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1600-0560
pISSN - 0303-6987
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0560.2001.280704.x
Subject(s) - mycosis fungoides , immunophenotyping , pathology , medicine , dermatology , lymphoma , immunology , flow cytometry
Background: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) usually characterized by a T‐helper memory phenotype (CD3+, CD4+, CD8−, CD45R0+). Aberrant phenotypes are more commonly seen in the tumor stages. CD45RA expression has so far been documented in only a few cases of CD8+ or TCRγδ+ CTCL and in some pagetoid reticulosis cases. Methods: Two hundred and fifteen MF patients were immunophenotyped in our laboratory between January 1992 and June 2000 and 22 cases of CD45RA+ MF (8.7%) were identified by immunohistochemical analysis. Results: The majority of these CD45RA+ patients (20/22) showed a patch‐plaque stage disease and an indolent clinical course, as expected in early‐stage MF. The remaining 2 patients presented with stage IIB and IVA MF, and were characterized by an aggressive clinical course, with systemic spread. The immunohistochemical analysis revealed that CD45RA+ neoplastic cells belonged to the memory compartment, displaying a CD62L−, CD11a+, CD29+ phenotype. Most patients showed aberrant phenotypes, with a loss of T‐cell lineage markers and expression of cytotoxic molecules or gamma‐delta chain of the T‐cell receptor. Conclusions: Our data show that CD45RA+ MF is a rare variant of CTCL and shares with the classic MF cases both the clinical features and disease course, even if it is characterized by a higher incidence of immunopathological abnormalities.