Chronic lymphocytic leukemia With t(2;14)(p16;q32) involves the BCL11A and IgH genes and is associated with atypical morphologic features and unmutated IgVH genes

Am J Clin Pathol. 2009 May;131(5):663-70. doi: 10.1309/AJCPXLY46UPFLISC.

Abstract

The t(2;14)(p16;q32) has been reported previously in only 12 cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). The clinicopathologic features have been incompletely described. We describe 6 new cases of CLL/SLL with t(2;14)(p16;q32). All had marrow involvement, 4 had absolute lymphocytosis, 4 had lymphadenopathy, and 3 had hepatosplenomegaly. All showed atypical lymphocyte morphologic features with plasmacytoid differentiation and irregular nuclei; 3 had increased prolymphocytes. Flow cytometry demonstrated typical immunophenotypes in 5 and an atypical immunophenotype in 1. All expressed ZAP70; 5 assessed showed unmutated IgV(H) genes. Karyotyping identified t(2;14)(p16;q32) as the sole abnormality in 1, primary abnormality in 2, and part of a complex karyotype in 3. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis revealed BCL11A/IgH rearrangement in all. After chemotherapy, 3 patients died of disease and 3 were alive with disease (median follow-up, 80 months). We conclude that CLL/SLL with t(2;14) (p16;q32) and BCL11A/IgH rearrangement is characterized by atypical morphologic features and unmutated IgV(H) genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2*
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • DNA, Neoplasm / analysis
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Genes, Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics*
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Karyotyping
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / genetics*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Translocation, Genetic*
  • ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase / metabolism

Substances

  • BCL11A protein, human
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase
  • ZAP70 protein, human