Phosphaturic Mesenchymal Tumor of the Ankle: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

We report the case of a phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor of the ankle; an extremely rare lesion that causes osteomalacia via paraneoplastic renal phosphate wasting. A 41-year-old man was referred to plastic surgery with a swelling over the anterior ankle, which had been increasing in size for 1 year. Focused ultrasound assessment was inconclusive, but excision biopsy demonstrated features in keeping with a phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor. Evidence of tumor-induced osteomalacia was subsequently identified on review of historical biochemistry. The patient was followed-up for 1 year with normalization of serum phosphate. In this case report, we present a discussion of the differential diagnosis for foot and ankle soft tissue lesions, and a review of the literature regarding the diagnosis and management of these tumors. Accurate identification of any soft tissue lesion on clinical examination alone is extremely challenging and excision biopsy should be considered in cases of diagnostic uncertainty.

BCR and TLR signaling pathways are recurrently targeted by genetic changes in splenic marginal zone lymphomas.

The genetics and pathogenesis of splenic marginal zone lymphoma are poorly understood. The lymphoma lacks chromosome translocation, and approximately 30% of cases are featured by 7q deletion, but the gene targeted by the deletion is unknown. A recent study showed inactivation of A20, a "global" NF-κB negative regulator, in 1 of 12 splenic marginal zone lymphomas. To investigate further whether deregulation of the NF-κB pathway plays a role in the pathogenesis of splenic marginal zone lymphoma, we screened several NF-κB regulators for genetic changes by PCR and sequencing. Somatic mutations were found in A20 (6/46=13%), MYD88 (6/46=13%), CARD11 (3/34=8.8%), but not in CD79A, CD79B and ABIN1. Interestingly, these genetic changes are largely mutually exclusive from each other and MYD88 mutation was also mutually exclusive from 7q deletion. These results strongly suggest that deregulation of the TLR (toll like receptor) and BCR (B-cell receptor) signaling pathway may play an important role in the pathogenesis of splenic marginal zone lymphoma.

A20 inactivation in ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma.

Recent studies showed A20 inactivation by deletion, mutation and promoter methylation in ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. However, the incidences of A20 abnormalities and their clinical impact remain for the most part unknown. It is also unknown whether ABIN-1 and ABIN-2, the components of the A20 NF-κB inhibitor complex, are inactivated by genetic changes in ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. A total of 105 cases were investigated for A20 mutation/deletion, ABIN-1/2 mutation, MALT1 and IGH involved translocation. Somatic mutation was seen frequently in A20 (28.6%) but rarely in ABIN-1 (1%) and ABIN-2 (1%). A20 mutations were significantly associated with A20 heterozygous deletion, and both were mutually exclusive from the MALT1 or IGH involved translocations. A20 mutation/deletion was also significantly associated with increased expression of the NF-κB target genes CCR2, TLR6 and BCL2. The cases with A20 mutation/deletion required significantly higher radiation dosages to achieve complete remission than those without these abnormalities.

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma: characterization of 7q deletion and its value in diagnosis.

The diagnosis of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) is frequently a challenge, due to its lack of specific histological features and immunophenotypic markers, and the existence of other poorly characterized splenic lymphomas defying classification. Moreover, the clinical outcome of SMZL is variable, with 30% of cases pursuing an aggressive clinical course, the prediction of which remains problematic. Thus, there is a real need for biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognostication of SMZL. To search for genetic markers, we comprehensively investigated the genomic profile, TP53 abnormalities, and immunoglobulin heavy gene (IGH) mutation in a large cohort of SMZLs. 1 Mb resolution array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) on 25 SMZLs identified 7q32 deletion (44%) as the most frequent copy number change, followed by gains of 3q (32%), 8q (20%), 9q34 (20%), 12q23-24 (8%), and chromosome 18 (12%), and losses of 6q (16%), 8p (12%), and 17p (8%). High-resolution chromosome 7 tile-path aCGH on 17 SMZLs with 7q32 deletion identified by 1 Mb aCGH or interphase FISH screening mapped the minimal common deletion to a 3 Mb region at 7q32.1-32.2. Although it is not yet possible to identify the genes targeted by the deletion, interphase FISH screening showed that the deletion was seen in SMZL (19/56 = 34%) and splenic B-cell lymphoma/leukaemia unclassifiable (3/9 = 33%), but not in 39 cases of other splenic lymphomas including chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (n = 14), hairy cell leukaemia (4), mantle cell lymphoma (12), follicular lymphoma (6), and others. In SMZL, 7q32 deletion was inversely correlated with trisomy 18, but not associated with other copy number changes, TP53 abnormalities, or IGH mutation status. None of the genetic parameters examined showed significant and independent association with overall or event-free survival. In conclusion, 7q32 deletion is a characteristic feature of SMZL, albeit seen in isolated cases of splenic B-cell lymphoma/leukaemia unclassifiable, and its detection may help the differential diagnosis of splenic B-cell lymphomas.

The prognosis of MYC translocation positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma depends on the second hit.

A proportion of MYC translocation positive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) harbour a BCL2 and/or BCL6 translocation, known as double-hit DLBCL, and are clinically aggressive. It is unknown whether there are other genetic abnormalities that cooperate with MYC translocation and form double-hit DLBCL, and whether there is a difference in clinical outcome between the double-hit DLBCL and those with an isolated MYC translocation. We investigated TP53 gene mutations along with BCL2 and BCL6 translocations in a total of 234 cases of DLBCL, including 81 with MYC translocation. TP53 mutations were investigated by PCR and sequencing, while BCL2 and BCL6 translocation was studied by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization. The majority of MYC translocation positive DLBCLs (60/81 = 74%) had at least one additional genetic hit. In MYC translocation positive DLBCL treated by R-CHOP (n = 67), TP53 mutation and BCL2, but not BCL6 translocation had an adverse effect on patient overall survival. In comparison with DLBCL with an isolated MYC translocation, cases with MYC/TP53 double-hits had the worst overall survival, followed by those with MYC/BCL2 double-hits. In MYC translocation negative DLBCL treated by R-CHOP (n = 101), TP53 mutation, BCL2 and BCL6 translocation had no impact on patient survival. The prognosis of MYC translocation positive DLBCL critically depends on the second hit, with TP53 mutations and BCL2 translocation contributing to an adverse prognosis. It is pivotal to investigate both TP53 mutations and BCL2 translocations in MYC translocation positive DLBCL, and to distinguish double-hit DLBCLs from those with an isolated MYC translocation.

An integrated genomic and expression analysis of 7q deletion in splenic marginal zone lymphoma.

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) is an indolent B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder characterised by 7q32 deletion, but the target genes of this deletion remain unknown. In order to elucidate the genetic target of this deletion, we performed an integrative analysis of the genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic and miRNomic data. High resolution array comparative genomic hybridization of 56 cases of SMZL delineated a minimally deleted region (2.8 Mb) at 7q32, but showed no evidence of any cryptic homozygous deletion or recurrent breakpoint in this region. Integrated transcriptomic analysis confirmed significant under-expression of a number of genes in this region in cases of SMZL with deletion, several of which showed hypermethylation. In addition, a cluster of 8 miRNA in this region showed under-expression in cases with the deletion, and three (miR-182/96/183) were also significantly under-expressed (P<0.05) in SMZL relative to other lymphomas. Genomic sequencing of these miRNA and IRF5, a strong candidate gene, did not show any evidence of somatic mutation in SMZL. These observations provide valuable guidance for further characterisation of 7q deletion.

A20, ABIN-1/2, and CARD11 mutations and their prognostic value in gastrointestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

PURPOSE: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous group of aggressive lymphomas with the activated B-cell-like subtype characterized by constitutive NF-κB activation. Activating mutations of CARD11 and inactivating mutations of A20 are frequent events in DLBCL. However, the full extent of genetic alterations in the NF-κB pathway regulators and their potential prognostic value in DLBCL remain to be investigated. We investigated the genetic abnormalities of CARD11, A20, and ABIN-1/2/3 (the A20 binding inhibitor of NF-κB) and their clinicopathologic correlation in gastrointestinal DLBCL. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The somatic mutation and copy number changes of CARD11, A20, and ABIN-1/2/3 were investigated in 71 gastrointestinal DLBCLs by PCR/sequencing, and interphase FISH/array comparative genomic hybridization, respectively. The mutations identified were functionally characterized by NF-κB reporter assays and immunoprecipitation experiments. RESULTS: Recurrent somatic mutations were found in CARD11 (10%), A20 (17%), ABIN-1 (4%), and ABIN-2 (3%), but not in ABIN-3. In comparison with the wild-type, all CARD11 mutants were potent NF-κB activators in vitro. On the basis of the destructive nature of the observed mutations, and the findings by reporter assays and immunoprecipitation studies, most if not all of the somatic mutations that were seen in A20, ABIN-1, and ABIN-2 could impair their normal functions. Among these genetic abnormalities, A20 somatic mutation was significantly associated with both poor overall survival and event-free survival. CONCLUSIONS: We show further evidence of NF-κB pathway genetic abnormalities in DLBCL, which are potentially valuable in the prognosis and design of future therapeutic strategies.