Cutaneous extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma: a clinicopathologic study of 5 patients with array-based comparative genomic hybridization

Blood. 2010 Jul 15;116(2):165-70. doi: 10.1182/blood-2009-11-252957. Epub 2010 Apr 19.

Abstract

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell (ENK/T) lymphoma is a rare neoplasm, subcategorized into ENK/T-nasal (ENK/T-N) and ENK/T-nasal type (ENK/T-NT) lymphomas. ENK/T-NT lymphoma with initial presentation in the skin is known as primary cutaneous ENK/T-NT (PC-ENK/T-NT) lymphoma. The aim of this study was to investigate pathogenesis, genomic alterations, and prognosis of cutaneous ENK/T lymphomas to provide further insights into clinicopathologic features and genetic mechanism of lymphomagenesis. A retrospective case study of 5 white patients affected by ENK/T lymphoma (4 PC-ENK/T-NT and 1 ENK/T-N with cutaneous involvement) was performed. Most of the cases presented with multiple nodules and ulcerations localized on the extremities. A considerable percentage had disease in advanced stage with a 12-month survival rate of 40%. Genomic alterations were detected by array-based comparative genomic hybridization that showed gains of 1q, 7q and loss of 17p in the cases of PC-ENK/T-NT lymphomas and gain of 7q and loss of 9p, 12p, 12q in the case of ENK/T-N lymphoma. In conclusion, ENK/T lymphoma is a very aggressive entity, and, in our cases, the exclusively cutaneous presentation was not associated with a better prognosis. The results of our array comparative genomic hybridization analysis could be useful to better define the different ENK/T lymphoma subgroups with cutaneous involvement.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Comparative Genomic Hybridization
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / genetics*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / mortality
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Skin Neoplasms / mortality
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents