Frequent occurrence of BCL6 rearrangements in nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin lymphoma but not in classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Blood. 2003 Jan 15;101(2):706-10. doi: 10.1182/blood-2002-05-1592. Epub 2002 Sep 12.

Abstract

We studied the genomic status of BCL6 in 23 cases of nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) and 40 cases of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), using dual-color interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The BCL6 rearrangement was identified in 48% of NLPHL cases and was not detected in cHL cases. As a confirmation, sequential or simultaneous immunohistochemistry (IHC) and FISH using CD20 or BCL6 antibodies and BCL6 DNA probes was performed in 8 NLPHL cases. The BCL6-associated translocations, t(3;22)(q27;q11), t(3;7)(q27;p12), and the most probable t(3;9)(q27;p13), were identified in 3 cases. A consistent expression of BCL6 protein in popcorn cells with the highest number of intensely stained cells in cases with a genomic BCL6 rearrangement was shown by IHC. These findings support the hypothesis of a germinal center B cell-derived origin of NLPHL, indicate a significant role of BCL6 in the pathogenesis of NLPHL, and provide further evidence of the genetic diversity underlying the pathogenesis of NLPHL and cHL.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • DNA, Neoplasm / analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte
  • Germinal Center / pathology
  • Hodgkin Disease / etiology
  • Hodgkin Disease / genetics*
  • Hodgkin Disease / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / methods
  • Incidence
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / etiology
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / pathology*
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / analysis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6
  • Transcription Factors / analysis
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Translocation, Genetic

Substances

  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6
  • Transcription Factors