Aggressive B cell lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract: clinicopathologic and genetic analysis

Virchows Arch. 2011 Nov;459(5):495-502. doi: 10.1007/s00428-011-1153-3. Epub 2011 Oct 15.

Abstract

Aggressive B cell lymphomas of the gastrointestinal tract include Burkitt lymphoma (BL), diffuse large B cell lymphoma, and B cell lymphoma, unclassifiable, with features intermediate between DLBCL and BL. To investigate the clinical characters of DLBCL/BL of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, 101 cases of aggressive B cell lymphoma of the GI tract were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using break apart probe for c-MYC gene. For cases with c-MYC rearrangement, additional FISH studies with MYC/IgH fusion probe, BCL2 break apart probe, and BCL6 break apart probe were performed. MYC rearrangement was detected in 23 of 101 cases of aggressive B cell lymphomas (22.5%). The cases with MYC rearrangement were divided into 14 BL, three DLBCL/BL, and six DLBCL. One of the three DLBCL/BL had double translocation for MYC and BCL6 gene. Clinically, DLBCL/BL of the GI tract was more akin to Burkitt lymphoma than it is to GI tract DLBCL with c-MYC rearrangement. The overall prognosis of patients with DLBCL/BL was the worst among aggressive B cell lymphomas. DLBCL/BL is uncommon category of B cell lymphoma in the GI tract with aggressive clinical course despite of intensive chemotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Gene Rearrangement
  • Genes, myc
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / genetics
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / mortality
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged