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Another look at follicular lymphoma: immunophenotypic and molecular analyses identify distinct follicular lymphoma subgroups
Author(s) -
Marafioti Teresa,
CopieBergman Christiane,
Calaminici Maria,
Paterson Jennifer C,
Shende Vishvesh H,
Liu Hongxiang,
Baia Maryse,
Ramsay Alan D,
Agostinelli Claudio,
Brière Josette,
Clear Andrew,
Du MingQing,
Piccaluga Pier Paolo,
Masir Noraidah,
Nacheva Elizabeth P,
Sujobert Pierre,
Shanmugam Kandavel,
Grogan Thomas M,
Brooks Simon P,
Khwaja Asim,
Ardeshna Kirit,
Townsend William,
Pileri Stefano A,
Haioun Corinne,
Linch David,
Gribben John G,
Gaulard Philippe,
Isaacson Peter G
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/his.12076
Subject(s) - follicular lymphoma , germinal center , lymphoma , pathology , stathmin , immunohistochemistry , follicular hyperplasia , follicular phase , biology , marginal zone , fluorescence in situ hybridization , immunophenotyping , b cell , medicine , antibody , immunology , antigen , gene , endocrinology , genetics , chromosome
Aims The aim of this study was to analyse the immunophenotypic and molecular features of a large series of follicular lymphomas, focusing in particular on atypical cases that fail to express CD 10 and/or bcl‐2. Such cases present diagnostic pitfalls, especially with regard to the differential diagnosis from follicular hyperplasia and marginal zone B ‐cell lymphoma. Therefore, we also included an immunohistochemical evaluation of stathmin, which is strongly expressed by germinal centre B cells, as a putative new marker for follicular lymphomas, particularly those with an atypical phenotype. Methods and results Two hundred and five follicular lymphomas were investigated with immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in‐situ hybridization ( FISH ). The use of three distinct anti‐bcl‐2 antibodies together with CD 10 expression data and FISH analysis for bcl‐2 and bcl‐6 rearrangements allowed subclassification of follicular lymphoma into four distinct subgroups: (i) CD 10‐positive/bcl‐2‐positive, (ii) CD 10‐positive/bcl‐2‐negative, (iii) CD 10‐negative/bcl‐2‐positive, and (iv) CD 10‐negative/bcl‐2‐negative. All cases were bcl‐6‐positive. STMN 1 (stathmin) was shown to be helpful in diagnosing bcl‐2‐negative and/or CD 10‐negative follicular lymphomas, and in their distinction from marginal zone B ‐cell lymphoma. Conclusions Combined immunohistological and molecular analyses reveal that follicular lymphomas showing an atypical immunophenotypic and molecular profile exist, and we demonstrate that STMN 1 represents a novel useful diagnostic marker for these.