ALK-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the stomach associated with a clathrin-ALK rearrangement

Hum Pathol. 2004 Oct;35(10):1285-8. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2004.06.001.

Abstract

ALK-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is a rare, recently characterized lymphoma subtype that shows granular cytoplasmic ALK expression. This report describes a primary gastric ALK-positive B-lineage lymphoma in which a clathrin (CLTC)-ALK fusion was identified by RT-PCR and direct sequencing of the breakpoint. This confirmed the presence of t(2;17)(p23;q23) involving the CLTC gene and is only the 4th report of such a translocation in this lymphoma subtype and the first to describe this tumor within the stomach. As in previous reports, immunophenotyping showed the malignant cell to be a terminally differentiated B-lineage cell characterized by the absence of B-cell antigens and expression of antigens associated with plasma cell differentiation. This case confirms the existence of such a lymphoma subtype arising in extranodal locations and underscores the importance of detailed immunophenotyping and specialized molecular genetic investigations in confirming the diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Base Sequence
  • Clathrin / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / genetics*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / genetics*
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Translocation, Genetic

Substances

  • Clathrin
  • ALK protein, human
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases