Genetic and Functional Drivers of Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common form of blood cancer and is characterized by a striking degree of genetic and clinical heterogeneity. This heterogeneity poses a major barrier to understanding the genetic basis of the disease and its response to therapy. Here, we performed an integrative analysis of whole-exome sequencing and transcriptome sequencing in a cohort of 1,001 DLBCL patients to comprehensively define the landscape of 150 genetic drivers of the disease. We characterized the functional impact of these genes using an unbiased CRISPR screen of DLBCL cell lines to define oncogenes that promote cell growth. A prognostic model comprising these genetic alterations outperformed current established methods: cell of origin, the International Prognostic Index comprising clinical variables, and dual MYC and BCL2 expression. These results comprehensively define the genetic drivers and their functional roles in DLBCL to identify new therapeutic opportunities in the disease.

Fifth Edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemias, Mixed-Phenotype Acute Leukemias, Myeloid/Lymphoid Neoplasms With Eosinophilia, Dendritic/Histiocytic Neoplasms, and Genetic Tumor Syndromes.

This manuscript represents a review of lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma), acute leukemias of ambiguous lineage, mixed-phenotype acute leukemias, myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with eosinophilia and defining gene rearrangements, histiocytic and dendritic neoplasms, and genetic tumor syndromes of the 5th edition of the World Health Organization Classification of Tumors of the Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues. The diagnostic, clinicopathologic, cytogenetic, and molecular genetic features are discussed. The differences in comparison to the 4th revised edition of the World Health Organization classification of hematolymphoid neoplasms are highlighted.

Pharmacological inhibition of Carbonic Anhydrase IX and XII to enhance targeting of acute myeloid leukaemia cells under hypoxic conditions.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is an aggressive form of blood cancer that carries a dismal prognosis. Several studies suggest that the poor outcome is due to a small fraction of leukaemic cells that elude treatment and survive in specialised, oxygen (O2 )-deprived niches of the bone marrow. Although several AML drug targets such as FLT3, IDH1/2 and CD33 have been established in recent years, survival rates remain unsatisfactory, which indicates that other, yet unrecognized, mechanisms influence the ability of AML cells to escape cell death and to proliferate in hypoxic environments. Our data illustrates that Carbonic Anhydrases IX and XII (CA IX/XII) are critical for leukaemic cell survival in the O2 -deprived milieu. CA IX and XII function as transmembrane proteins that mediate intracellular pH under low O2 conditions. Because maintaining a neutral pH represents a key survival mechanism for tumour cells in O2 -deprived settings, we sought to elucidate the role of dual CA IX/XII inhibition as a novel strategy to eliminate AML cells under hypoxic conditions. Our findings demonstrate that the dual CA IX/XII inhibitor FC531 may prove to be of value as an adjunct to chemotherapy for the treatment of AML.

Differential stem- and progenitor-cell trafficking by prostaglandin E2.

To maintain lifelong production of blood cells, haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are tightly regulated by inherent programs and extrinsic regulatory signals received from their microenvironmental niche. Long-term repopulating HSCs reside in several, perhaps overlapping, niches that produce regulatory molecules and signals necessary for homeostasis and for increased output after stress or injury. Despite considerable advances in the specific cellular or molecular mechanisms governing HSC-niche interactions, little is known about the regulatory function in the intact mammalian haematopoietic niche. Recently, we and others described a positive regulatory role for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on HSC function ex vivo. Here we show that inhibition of endogenous PGE2 by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment in mice results in modest HSC egress from the bone marrow. Surprisingly, this was independent of the SDF-1-CXCR4 axis implicated in stem-cell migration. Stem and progenitor cells were found to have differing mechanisms of egress, with HSC transit to the periphery dependent on niche attenuation and reduction in the retentive molecule osteopontin. Haematopoietic grafts mobilized with NSAIDs had superior repopulating ability and long-term engraftment. Treatment of non-human primates and healthy human volunteers confirmed NSAID-mediated egress in other species. PGE2 receptor knockout mice demonstrated that progenitor expansion and stem/progenitor egress resulted from reduced E-prostanoid 4 (EP4) receptor signalling. These results not only uncover unique regulatory roles for EP4 signalling in HSC retention in the niche, but also define a rapidly translatable strategy to enhance transplantation therapeutically.

Azacitidine with or without Entinostat for the treatment of therapy-related myeloid neoplasm: further results of the E1905 North American Leukemia Intergroup study.

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (tMN) are serious late effects of the treatment of cancer with poor response to conventional treatment. Azacitidine (AZA) has been used to treat patients with tMN but current data are retrospective. We present here 47 tMN patients prospectively enrolled as a specific cohort in the E1905 study. TheE1905 study was a randomized phase 2 study (NCT00313586) testing 10 d of AZA (50 mg/m(2) /d) +/- the histone deacetylase inhibitor entinostat (4 mg/m(2) /d PO day-3 and day-10). A total of 47 patients [29 therapy-related myelosyspastic syndrome (t-MDS) and 18 therapy-related acute myeloid leukaemia (t-AML)] were recruited to the study. 24 patients were treated with AZA monotherapy and 23 with AZA+entinostat. The median number of administered cycles was 4, significantly higher in patients treated with AZA (6 cycles vs. 3 cycles, P = 0·008). Haematological normalization rates were 46% in monotherapy and 17% in the combination arm. Median overall survivals were 13 and 6 months, respectively. The novel 50 * 10 schedule of azacitidine appears effective, with response rates, when given as single agent, comparable to those for patients with de novo MDS/AML treated on the same protocol. However, the combination of AZA and entinostat was associated with increased toxicity and could not be recommended for treatment of tMN.

The genomic landscape of mantle cell lymphoma is related to the epigenetically determined chromatin state of normal B cells.

In this study, we define the genetic landscape of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) through exome sequencing of 56 cases of MCL. We identified recurrent mutations in ATM, CCND1, MLL2, and TP53. We further identified a number of novel genes recurrently mutated in patients with MCL including RB1, WHSC1, POT1, and SMARCA4. We noted that MCLs have a distinct mutational profile compared with lymphomas from other B-cell stages. The ENCODE project has defined the chromatin structure of many cell types. However, a similar characterization of primary human mature B cells has been lacking. We defined, for the first time, the chromatin structure of primary human naïve, germinal center, and memory B cells through chromatin immunoprecipitation and sequencing for H3K4me1, H3K4me3, H3Ac, H3K36me3, H3K27me3, and PolII. We found that somatic mutations that occur more frequently in either MCLs or Burkitt lymphomas were associated with open chromatin in their respective B cells of origin, naïve B cells, and germinal center B cells. Our work thus elucidates the landscape of gene-coding mutations in MCL and the critical interplay between epigenetic alterations associated with B-cell differentiation and the acquisition of somatic mutations in cancer.

A Child With Dyserythropoietic Anemia and Megakaryocyte Dysplasia Due to a Novel 5'UTR GATA1s Splice Mutation.

We describe a child with dyserythropoietic anemia, thrombocytosis, functional platelet defect, and megakaryocyte dysplasia. We show that (i) this constellation of hematopoietic abnormalities was due to a germline mutation within the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) of globin transcription factor 1 (GATA1); (ii) the mutation impaired a 5'UTR GATA1 splicing site, with promoted production of the shortened GATA1 isoform lacking the N-terminus; and (iii) expression of the GATA1 N-terminus is restricted to erythroblasts and megakaryocytes in normal marrow, consistent with the patient's abnormal erythropoiesis and megakaryopoiesis. Our findings provide insights into the clinically relevant in vivo function of the N-terminal domain of GATA1 in human hematopoiesis.

Genetic heterogeneity of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common form of lymphoma in adults. The disease exhibits a striking heterogeneity in gene expression profiles and clinical outcomes, but its genetic causes remain to be fully defined. Through whole genome and exome sequencing, we characterized the genetic diversity of DLBCL. In all, we sequenced 73 DLBCL primary tumors (34 with matched normal DNA). Separately, we sequenced the exomes of 21 DLBCL cell lines. We identified 322 DLBCL cancer genes that were recurrently mutated in primary DLBCLs. We identified recurrent mutations implicating a number of known and not previously identified genes and pathways in DLBCL including those related to chromatin modification (ARID1A and MEF2B), NF-κB (CARD11 and TNFAIP3), PI3 kinase (PIK3CD, PIK3R1, and MTOR), B-cell lineage (IRF8, POU2F2, and GNA13), and WNT signaling (WIF1). We also experimentally validated a mutation in PIK3CD, a gene not previously implicated in lymphomas. The patterns of mutation demonstrated a classic long tail distribution with substantial variation of mutated genes from patient to patient and also between published studies. Thus, our study reveals the tremendous genetic heterogeneity that underlies lymphomas and highlights the need for personalized medicine approaches to treating these patients.

Is ALK-gene rearrangement overlooked in primary gastrointestinal T-cell lymphomas? About two cases.

A 41-year-old male patient with a history of ankylosing spondylitis and Crohn disease, treated with immunomodulators and disease-modifying drugs, was diagnosed with a primary intestinal T-cell lymphoma that followed a 7.5-year-course. This transmural proliferation lacked cytological characteristics of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), and was CD8-positive, and CD30- and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-negative by immunohistochemistry (IHC). However, ALK-gene rearrangement (ALK-gr) was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in both initial and persistent disease. The possibility of indolent T-cell lymphoproliferative disease of the gastrointestinal tract with atypical features (transmural involvement) related to ALK-gr was suggested. A previous case of aggressive 'enteropathy-associated ALCL' in the context of celiac disease was recently reported, which also lacked anaplastic morphology, and where CD30 and ALK expression was incidentally demonstrated by IHC, and ALK-gr subsequently confirmed by FISH. These two recent cases represent two distinct rare entities pertaining to the group of primary intestinal T-cell lymphomas, and they both show unexpected ALK-gr. This suggests that ALK-gr has been overlooked in the group of primary intestinal T-cell lymphomas. Performing IHC and FISH tests for ALK-gr in primary gastrointestinal T-cell lymphomas might be of importance, particularly with the advancement of targeted therapy that could impact treatment and prognosis.

Inhibition of PPARγ in myeloid-lineage cells induces systemic inflammation, immunosuppression, and tumorigenesis.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) is an anti-inflammatory molecule. To study its biologic function in myeloid cells, dominant-negative PPARγ (dnPPARγ) was overexpressed in a myeloid-specific bitransgenic mouse model. In this bitransgenic system, overexpression of the dnPPARγ-Flag fusion protein in myeloid-lineage cells abnormally elevated frequencies and total numbers of IL-7Rα(-)Lin(-)c-Kit(+)Sca-1(-), Lin(-)/Scal(+)/c-Kit(+), common myeloid, and granulocyte-monocyte progenitor populations in the BM. dnPPARγ overexpression led to up-regulation of IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNFα in the blood plasma. As a result, CD11b(+)Ly6G(+) cells were systemically increased in association with activation of Stat3, NF-κB, Erk1/2, and p38 molecules. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) inhibited the proliferation and lymphokine production of wild-type CD4+ T cells in vitro. CD4+ T cells from doxycycline-treated bitransgenic mice displayed reduced proliferation and lymphokine release. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations were decreased in doxycycline-treated bitransgenic mice. Multiple forms of carcinoma and sarcoma in the lung, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes were observed in doxycycline-treated bitransgenic mice. BM transplantation revealed that a myeloid-autonomous defect was responsible for MDSC expansion, immunosuppression, and tumorigenesis in these mice. These studies suggest that anti-inflammatory PPARγ in myeloid-lineage cells plays a key role in controlling pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis, MDSC expansion, immunosuppression, and the development of cancer.

Rapid progression of primary cutaneous gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma with an initial indolent clinical presentation.

Primary cutaneous gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma (CGD-TCL) is a rare cutaneous T-cell lymphoma characterized by a rapidly progressive clinical course and a poor prognosis. We report a case of a 52-year-old man with a 10-year history of erythematous nodules and a rapid terminal progression diagnosed as CGD-TCL. Biopsies taken at the time of progression showed a dense lymphocytic infiltrate involving the subcutaneous adipose tissue and deep dermis. One of the biopsies displayed much more limited involvement by CGD-TCL that was nearly identical to the biopsies of the erythematous lesions 10 years before. In conclusion, this case demonstrates a case of CGD-TCL presenting as a longstanding indolent disease with a rapid terminal progression. The indolent clinical course and histological heterogeneity make diagnosing this entity during the initial stage extremely challenging. This case underscores a diverse clinical presentations and a need to consider CGD-TCL in patients showing subcutaneous lesions with an indolent clinical course.

A familial SAMD9 variant present in pediatric myelodysplastic syndrome.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a rare pediatric diagnosis characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis with potential to evolve into acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). In this report, we describe a unique case of a 17-yr-old female with an aggressive course of MDS with excess blasts who was found to have monosomy 7 and a SAMD9 germline variant, which has not previously been associated with a MDS phenotype. This case of MDS was extremely rapidly progressing, showing resistance to chemotherapy and stem cell transplant, unfortunately resulting in patient death. It is imperative to further investigate this rare variant to aid in the future care of patients with this variant.

Transdifferentiation, phenotypic infidelity, progression, and transformation in T/NK-cell neoplasms: Report from the 2021 SH/EAHP Workshop.

OBJECTIVES: Sessions 8 and 9 of the 2021 Society for Hematopathology and the European Association for Haematopathology Workshop aimed to collect examples of transdifferentiation, lineage infidelity, progression, and transformation in precursor and mature T/natural killer (NK)-cell neoplasms. METHODS: Twenty-eight cases were submitted and analyzed, with whole-exome sequencing and genome-wide RNA expression analysis performed in a subset of the cases. RESULTS: In session 8, 7 T-lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia cases were received that showed transdifferentiation to clonally related mature myeloid hematopoietic neoplasms, including 6 histiocytic/dendritic cell lineage neoplasms and a mast cell sarcoma. Session 9 included 21 mature T-cell neoplasms that were grouped into 3 themes. The first one addressed phenotypic infidelity in mature T-cell lymphomas (TCLs) and included 8 TCLs expressing aberrant antigens, mimicking classic Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphomas. The second theme addressed disease progression in TCL and included 5 cutaneous T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders and 2 T-cell large granular lymphocyte proliferations with subsequent progression to systemic TCL. The third theme included 6 patients with TCL with T-follicular helper phenotype, mainly angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, with concurrent/subsequent clonal hematopoiesis or myeloid neoplasms and/or subsequent/concomitant diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. CONCLUSIONS: This cohort of cases allowed us to illustrate, discuss, and review current concepts of transdifferentiation, aberrant antigen expression, and progression in various T/NK-cell neoplasms.

B-cell lineage neoplasms transdifferentiating into histiocytic/dendritic cell neoplasms: diversity, differentiation lineage, genomic alterations, and therapy: Report from the 2021 SH/EAHP Workshop.

OBJECTIVES: To report findings from the 2021 Society for Hematopathology/European Association for Haematopathology Workshop within the category of B-cell lineage neoplasms' transdifferentiation into histiocytic/dendritic cell neoplasms (HDCNs). METHODS: The workshop panel reviewed 29 cases, assigned consensus diagnoses, and summarized findings. RESULTS: The specific diagnoses of transdifferentiated HDCN tumors were histiocytic sarcoma (16); Langerhans cell histiocytosis/sarcoma (5); indeterminate DC tumor (1); and HDCN, unclassifiable (1). Approximately one-third of the patients reviewed had follicular lymphoma; lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma; or another B-cell lymphoma, most commonly chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma. There was a 3:1 preponderance toward women, median patient age was 60 years, and the median interval between the initial diagnosis of B-cell lineage neoplasm and HDCN was 4 to 5 years. The submitted cases have demonstrated substantial heterogeneity as well as overlapping immunophenotypic and other features. Comprehensive genomic DNA sequencing revealed alterations enriched in the MAPK pathway. Based on shared and distinct alterations seen in HDCNs and the preceding lymphomas, both linear and divergent clonal evolutionary pathways were inferred. Furthermore, RNA sequencing performed in a subset of cases yielded new insights into markers that could be useful for more precise cell lineage identification. The panel has thus proposed an updated algorithm for HDCN lineage assignment. The outcome of transdifferentiated HDCNs was poor, but the MAPK signaling pathway emerges as a potentially attractive therapeutic target. CONCLUSIONS: Transdifferentiated HDCNs demonstrate heterogeneity and pose diagnostic challenges with regard to exact classification, but the in-depth characterization of the submitted cases have added to our understanding of the secondary HDCNs transdifferentiated from B-cell lymphoma/leukemia. Continuous efforts focusing on deciphering the specific cell lineage and differentiation state of these tumors will be critical for their accurate classification. Comprehensive molecular characterization of HDCNs may be informative in this regard. With the list of novel pharmacologic inhibitors of the MAPK pathway continuing to expand, improved outcomes for HDCN can be expected.

Progression of follicular lymphoma and related entities: Report from the 2021 SH/EAHP Workshop.

OBJECTIVES: The 2021 Society for Hematopathology and European Association for Haematopathology Workshop addressed the molecular and cytogenetic underpinnings of transformation and transdifferentiation in lymphoid neoplasms. METHODS: Session 4, "Transformations of Follicular Lymphoma," and session 5, "Transformations of Other B-Cell Lymphomas," included 45 cases. Gene alteration analysis and expression profiling were performed on cases with submitted formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue. RESULTS: The findings from session 4 suggest that "diffuse large B-cell lymphoma/high-grade B-cell lymphoma with rearrangements of MYC and BCL2" is a distinct category arising from the constraints of a preexisting BCL2 translocation. TdT expression in aggressive B-cell lymphomas is associated with MYC rearrangements, immunophenotypic immaturity, and a dismal prognosis but must be differentiated from lymphoblastic -lymphoma. Cases in session 5 illustrated unusual morphologic and immunophenotypic patterns of transformation. Additionally, the findings support the role of cytogenetic abnormalities-specifically, MYC and NOTCH1 rearrangements-as well as single gene alterations, including TP53, in transformation. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these unique cases and their accompanying molecular and cytogenetic data suggest potential mechanisms for and unusual patterns of transformation in B-cell lymphomas and indicate numerous opportunities for further study.

Transformations of marginal zone lymphomas and lymphoplasmacytic lymphomas: Report from the 2021 SH/EAHP Workshop.

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the conclusions of the 2021 Society for Hematopathology/European Association for Haematopathology workshop regarding transformations of marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL). METHODS: Nineteen cases were submitted to this portion of the workshop. Additional studies were performed in cases with sufficient material. RESULTS: Cases included splenic MZL (n = 4), splenic diffuse red pulp small B-cell lymphoma (n = 2), nodal MZL (n = 4), extranodal MZL (n = 1), and LPL (n = 8). The most common transformation was to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), but others included classic Hodgkin lymphoma, high-grade B-cell lymphomas with MYC and BCL6 rearrangements, plasmablastic lymphoma, and plasma cell leukemia. Two splenic MZLs with transformation to DLBCL contained t(14;19)(q32;q13.3) IGH::BCL3 rearrangements in both samples. Paired sequencing studies in 5 MZLs with transformation to clonally related DLBCL identified a variety of mutations and gene fusions at the time of transformation, including CARD11, IGH::MYC, NOTCH2, P2RY8, TBLX1X1, and IGH::CD274. CONCLUSIONS: Marginal zone lymphoma and LPL may undergo a variety of transformation events, most commonly to DLBCL, which is usually, although not always, directly clonally related to the underlying low-grade lymphoma. Multiparameter analysis including broad-based sequencing studies can assist in the diagnosis and classification of these uncommon cases.

Progression and transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma and B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia: Report from the 2021 SH/EAHP Workshop.

OBJECTIVES: Session 3 of the 2021 Workshop of the Society for Hematopathology/European Association for Haematopathology examined progression and transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) and B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (B-PLL). METHODS: Thirty-one cases were reviewed by the panel. Additional studies such as immunohistochemistry and molecular genetic testing, including whole-exome sequencing and expression profiling, were performed in select cases. RESULTS: Session 3 included 27 CLL/SLL cases and miscellaneous associated proliferations, 3 cases of B-PLL, and 1 case of small B-cell lymphoma. The criteria for -accelerated CLL/SLL are established for lymph nodes, but extranodal disease can be diagnostically challenging. Richter transformation (RT) is a broad term and includes true transformation from original CLL/SLL clone(s) and clonally unrelated neoplasms. The morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genetic spectrum is diverse with classical and highly unusual examples. T-cell proliferations can also be encountered in CLL/SLL. B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia is a rare, diagnostically challenging disease due to its overlaps with other lymphoid neoplasms. CONCLUSIONS: The workshop highlighted complexity of progression and transformation in CLL/SLL and B-PLL, as well as diagnostic caveats accompanying heterogeneous presentations of RT and other manifestations of disease progression. Molecular genetic studies are pivotal for diagnosis and determination of clonal relationship, and to predict response to treatment and identify resistance to targeted therapy.

Phenotypic and genotypic infidelity in B-lineage neoplasms, including transdifferentiation following targeted therapy: Report from the 2021 SH/EAHP Workshop.

OBJECTIVES: Session 2 of the 2021 Society for Hematopathology and European Association for Haematopathology Workshop collected examples of lineage infidelity and transdifferentiation in B-lineage neoplasms, including after targeted therapy. METHODS: Twenty cases were submitted. Whole-exome sequencing and genome-wide RNA expression analysis were available on a limited subsample. RESULTS: A diagnosis of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) was rendered on at least 1 biopsy from 13 patients. There was 1 case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML); the remaining 6 cases were mature B-cell neoplasms. Targeted therapy was administered in 7 cases of B-ALL and 4 cases of mature B-cell neoplasms. Six cases of B-ALL underwent lineage switch to AML or mixed-phenotype acute leukemia at relapse, 5 of which had rearranged KMT2A. Changes in maturational state without lineage switch were observed in 2 cases. Examples of de novo aberrant T-cell antigen expression (n = 2) were seen among the mature B-cell lymphoma cohort, and their presence correlated with alterations in tumor cell gene expression patterns. CONCLUSIONS: This cohort of cases enabled us to illustrate, discuss, and review current concepts of lineage switch and aberrant antigen expression in a variety of B-cell neoplasms and draw attention to the role targeted therapies may have in predisposing neoplasms to transdifferentiation as well as other, less expected changes in maturational status.

Progression of Hodgkin lymphoma and plasma cell neoplasms: Report from the 2021 SH/EAHP Workshop.

OBJECTIVES: To summarize cases submitted to the 2021 Society for Hematopathology/European Association for Haematopathology Workshop under the categories of progression of Hodgkin lymphoma, plasmablastic myeloma, and plasma cell myeloma. METHODS: The workshop panel reviewed 20 cases covered in this session. In addition, whole-exome sequencing (WES) and whole-genome RNA expression analysis were performed on 10 submitted cases, including 6 Hodgkin lymphoma and 4 plasma neoplasm cases. RESULTS: The cases of Hodgkin lymphoma included transformed cases to or from various types of B-cell lymphoma with 1 exception, which had T-cell differentiation. The cases of plasma cell neoplasms included cases with plasmablastic progression, progression to plasma cell leukemia, and secondary B-lymphoblastic leukemia. Gene variants identified by WES included some known to be recurrent in Hodgkin lymphoma and plasma cell neoplasm. All submitted Hodgkin lymphoma samples showed 1 or more of these mutations: SOCS1, FGFR2, KMT2D, RIT1, SPEN, STAT6, TET2, TNFAIP3, and ZNF217. CONCLUSIONS: Better molecular characterization of both of these neoplasms and mechanisms of progression will help us to better understand mechanisms of progression and perhaps develop better prognostic models, as well as identifying novel therapeutic targets.

Immune-mediated diseases and immunodeficiencies associated with thymic epithelial neoplasms.

INTRODUCTION: This retrospective study aimed to characterize the clinical hematological and immunological features of patients with thymic epithelial neoplasms. METHODS: From a cohort of 512 patients with thymic epithelial neoplasms, 79 patients diagnosed with autoimmune/immunodeficiency conditions or signs and/or symptoms suggesting an autoimmune or immunodeficiency state were evaluated by standard immunological and hematological testing. RESULTS: Elevated percentages of CD2+, CD3+, and CD8+ lymphocytes were observed in 44 (57.1%), 33 (41.8%), and 32 (40.5%) patients. Low CD4+ and CD19+ percentages were observed in 25 (31.6%) and 36 (46.2%), respectively; CD4+:CD8+ ratios were inverted in 18 (22.8%). IgG, IgA, and IgM levels were low in 12 (15.8%), 9 (11.7%) and 15 (19.7%) patients, respectively. Patients with immunodeficiency condition(s) were more likely to have high CD8+ percentages (p = 0.040), low CD19+ percentages (p = 0.025), and/or inverted CD4+/CD8+ ratios (p = 0.034). Patients with autoimmune condition(s) were more likely to have a high/normal CD4+ percentage (p = 0.038). High CD2+ percentages were associated with lower mean IgG and IgA levels (p = 0.030 and p = 0.017, respectively). High CD3+ and CD8+ percentages were associated with lower mean IgA levels (p = 0.046 and p = 0.013, respectively). Low CD19+ percentages were associated with lower mean IgG and IgA levels (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Signs/symptoms and history of autoimmune and immunodeficiency conditions among patients with thymic epithelial neoplasms are associated with high frequencies of abnormalities in immunoglobulin levels and lymphocyte immunophenotypes, suggesting a role for their assessment.