CD30/Ki-1-positive lymphoproliferative disorders of the skin--clinicopathologic correlation and statistical analysis of 86 cases: a multicentric study from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Cutaneous Lymphoma Project Group.

PURPOSE: Recently, it has been shown that CD30 antigen expression is associated with a relatively favorable prognosis in primary cutaneous large-cell lymphomas (CLCLs). However, prognostic subsets within the CD30+ group have been difficult to identify due to lack of uniform clinicopathologic and immunophenotypic criteria, limited clinical information, and the inclusion of relatively few patients for statistical analysis in prior studies. To address these problems, we formed a multicentric study group of pathologists and dermatologists to classify and evaluate 92 cases of CD30+ cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An expert panel established consensus diagnoses for 86 CD30+ cutaneous lymphomas. Cases, clinically and histologically classified as lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP), anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL), nonanaplastic lymphoma, and borderline histology between LyP and ALCL, were then analyzed statistically by univariate, multivariate, and Cox regression model analysis of potential prognostic features. RESULTS: Spontaneous regression and age less than 60 years were associated with a favorable prognosis, while extracutaneous disease and age greater than 60 had a poor prognosis. Patients with LyP had the best prognosis, followed by those with primary CD30+ lymphomas, regardless of cytologic type (anaplastic or nonanaplastic). Borderline cases, morphologically indistinguishable from LyP and CD30+ ALCL, had a favorable prognosis, similar to LyP. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that CD30+ cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders comprise a spectrum of closely related skin lesions, which can be assigned a relatively favorable or unfavorable prognosis by a combined clinical and pathologic analysis.

Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma with sclerosis: an aggressive tumor with distinctive clinical and pathologic features.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical features of presentation, the morphologic and immunohistochemical pattern, the modality of spread, and the response to current treatments of patients with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma, a recently documented subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients (14 males, 16 females; median age, 26 years) with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma with sclerosis were studied. RESULTS: The clinical aspects were largely homogeneous: 93% presented with chest symptoms of a rapidly enlarging mass of the anterior mediastinum; the tumor was bulky in 73%, and superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) was present in 57%. Also, patients without SVCS symptoms showed subclinical venacaval compression at computed tomographic (CT) scan, for a total incidence of caval obstruction of 80%. Intrathoracic extension to adjacent organs was seen in 47% of patients. Despite its invasive behavior, only four patients showed extrathoracic spread at diagnosis. In 23 cases, the tumor presented with morphologic features that resembled follicular center-cell lymphomas. In seven, the neoplastic population was composed mainly of centrocyte-like cells with abundant clear cytoplasm not referable to any known B-cell lymphoma subtype. All cases showed huge sclerosis. Of 29 patients assessable for response, 16 (55%) achieved a complete response (CR): five of 14 (36%) treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP), and 11 of 15 (73%) treated with methotrexate plus leucovarin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and bleomycin (MACOP-B) or etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and bleomycin (VACOP-B) (P = .047). We could identify no clinical, biologic, or histopathologic features significantly correlated with response. After chemotherapy, 14 of 16 remitters received consolidation radiotherapy to the mediastinum. At 3 years, the actuarial survival rate is 38% for all cases and 72% for remitters. None of the 13 patients who did not achieve CR responded to salvage treatments. CONCLUSION: This study shows that primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma with sclerosis is a distinctive subtype of NHL with unique clinicopathologic aspects and aggressive behavior. Prompt recognition and aggressive treatment may provide long survival in a good proportion of cases. However, a subset of patients is extremely refractory to first- and second-line treatment. Conventional prognostic factors seem inadequate to identify these very-poor-risk cases.

Early and multifocal tumors in breast, salivary, harderian and epididymal tissues developed in MMTY-Neu transgenic mice.

Transgenic mice carrying various oncogenes driven by mammary gland specific enhancers develop mammary tumors usually arising in a stochastic way. The only exception is a mouse lineage (TG.NF) carrying an activated rat Neu oncogene driven by the murine mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat (MMTV-LTR) that gave rise to rapid and multifocal mammary tumors interpreted as a result of a single-step neoplastic transformation. The effect of the oncogene appeared to be specific for breast tissue, since salivary and Harderian glands as well as epididymis expressed high levels of Neu but only developed hyperplasia (Muller et al., Cell, (1988) 54, p. 105). Here we describe a transgenic mouse lineage for the MMTV-Neu, analysed up to third generation. Multifocal tumors involving mammary glands arose very rapidly in all females independently from pregnancy and in some males. Moreover, multifocal neoplasias occurred also in salivary and Harderian glands and in the epididymis at a very high rate. These data demonstrate that the Neu oncogene can induce tumors in all the tissues where it is expressed at high levels.

Splenic marginal zone cell lymphoma: report of an indolent variant without massive splenomegaly presumably representing an early phase of the disease.

Splenic marginal zone (MRZ) cell lymphoma is a recently described neoplasm arising in a unique compartment of splenic white pulp, producing massive splenomegaly and spreading to bone marrow and distant lymph nodes. We report three cases of splenic lymphoma that morphologically and immunohistochemically appear to originate from MRZ cells that presented as indolent neoplasms involving the spleen but with no or only moderate enlargement of the organ, presumably representing an early clinical stage of this disorder. Despite the evidence of involvement of the liver in one case, lymph nodes and bone marrow proved to be uninvolved. Histologically, the three spleens showed similar features, being characterized by the involvement of white pulp follicles and periarteriolar lymphoid sheaths by medium-sized lymphoid cells with slightly irregular nuclei and ample cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, all the specimens expressed a series of B-lineage markers that, in contrast to specimens of monocytoid B cell lymphoma (MBCL) and hairy cell leukemia (HCL) studied for comparison, did not react with KiB3, LN1, and DBA.44 monoclonal antibodies.

Immunophenotypic characterization of the cell infiltrate in five cases of sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman disease).

Little is known about the nature of the large intrasinusoidal cells exhibiting cytophagocytosis, which are the histologic hallmark of sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML) (Rosai-Dorfman disease). Using a broad panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies, we analyzed the immunophenotype of the cell infiltrates in seven lymph node biopsy specimens from five cases of SHML. The SHML cells constantly expressed the S-100 protein, concanavalin agglutinin and peanut agglutinin lectins, and monocyte-macrophage-associated antigens CD 11c, CD 14, CD 33, CD 68, and LN 5. Labeling with other antimacrophage antibodies was extremely variable, with some (MAC 387, lysozyme) restricted to clusters of SHML cells and others (CD11b, CD 36, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin) staining only scattered cells. The CD 1a antigen was found on some cells in only one case, whereas HLA-DR and the HLA-DR-associated invariant chains were absent. The heterogeneity of SHML cell marker expression might be related to the local content of factors (eg, cytokines) capable of modulating the phenotype of monocytes and derived cells. All cases presented with huge amounts of medium-sized mononuclear cells accumulated in the sinuses and intersinusoidal tissue. These cells expressed the S-100-/CD 11b+/CD 11c+/CD 14+/CD 16+/CD 33+/CD 36+/lysozyme+/MAC 387+/HLA-DR+ phenotype. These recently immigrated monocytes might represent the immediate precursors of SHML cells.

Cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders: expression of bcl-2 and proteins of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily.

The spectrum of CD30+ cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders is characterized by the histology of a high-grade lymphoma but frequent clinical regression of skin lesions in lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) and occasional regression in CD30+ large cell lymphomas (LCLs). A recent study shows that apoptosis may be a significant mechanism of regression of LyP (Arch Dermatol 133:828-833, 1997). Therefore, we studied expression of proteins that induce apoptosis, including CD27, CD40, CD95, and nerve growth factor receptor (NGF-R), as well as anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 in skin lesions from 25 patients within the spectrum of CD30+ cutaneous lymphoma. Our results show consistent expression of CD95 (APO-1/Fas), but rare or absent expression of CD27, CD40, and NGF-R on tumor cells from both regressing LyP lesions and nonregressing CD30+ lymphomas. Bcl-2 was expressed at low levels in LyP and at high levels in pleomorphic CD30+ lymphomas. These results indicate that, in addition to CD30, CD95 expression is preferentially expressed at high levels in all cutaneous CD30+ lymphomas and suggest that CD95 may play a role in the regression of CD30+ skin lesions. Expression of bcl-2 appears to protect tumor cells from apoptosis in CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders.

Cathepsin D and E co-expression in sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman disease) and Langerhans' cell histiocytosis: further evidences of a phenotypic overlap between these histiocytic disorders.

Nosological classification of sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML; Rosai-Dorfman disease) is difficult, and the normal cellular counterpart of Rosai-Dorfman (RD) cells is uncharacterised. The peculiar S-100+ phenotype of RD cells suggests a relationship with the dendritic cell family. Recent investigations have revealed cathepsin E to be selectively concentrated in antigen-presenting cells, whereas cathepsin D was found to be expressed in cells of macrophage lineage. Cathepsin D and E distribution was investigated by immunohistochemistry in a series of SHML biopsies and in two types of dendritic cell proliferative lesions: dermatopathic lymphadenitis (DL) and Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH). In SHML biopsies, RD cells and monocyte-related elements of the sinuses and pulp coexpressed cathepsin D and E. LCH cells also stained for both these aspartic proteinases. Conversely, in DL cathepsin E and D were localised to separate cells that resembled Langerhans' cells (LC) or macrophages, respectively, in morphology and distribution. Our data outline the peculiar immunophenotype of RD and LCH cells and suggest that caution should be exercised in the identification of their normal cellular counterpart. The common expression of cathepsin D and E and of S-100 protein suggests some phenotypic overlap between SHML and LCH cells, despite their striking morphological divergence.

Cathepsin E in antigen-presenting Langerhans and interdigitating reticulum cells. Its possible role in antigen processing.

A specific rabbit anti-human cathepsin E serum detected this aspartic proteinase in Langerhans cells of the skin, in interdigitating reticulum cells of lymph nodes and spleen and in histiocytosis X cells, but not in macrophages. Immunoblotting of tissue extracts confirmed the presence of cathepsin E in skin and lymph nodes. Electron immunocytochemistry with the protein A gold technique localized cathepsin E in the endoplasmic reticulum and in endosomal vesicles of both interdigitating and Langerhans cells, likely involving Birbeck bodies. A role of endosomal cathepsin E in antigen processing is suggested.

[Primary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the breast. Clinico-pathologic study of 2 cases]. / Linfomi non-Hodgkin primitivi della mammella. Studio clinico-patologico di due casi.

The authors describe two cases of malignant non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in a mammary site observed at IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo (Pavia). Histologic, immunohistochemical and clinical features are illustrated. Correct diagnosis is essential so that appropriate multidisciplinary treatment may be applied.

[Primary CD30+ large-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the soft tissues. Clinico-pathologic study of a case]. / Linfoma non Hodgkin a grandi cellule CD30+ primitivo dei tessuti molli. Studio clinico-patologico di un caso.

The authors report a single case of primary soft tissue CD30+ non anaplastic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The clinical, histological and immunohistochemical features of this peculiar lymphoma type are discussed. Within extranodal lymphomas, a primary soft tissue involvement is rare and the literature lacks exhaustive data on the clinical behaviour of these malignancies. In our case, the prognosis appeared more closely related to the clinical stage of the disease than to histology.

Phylogenetic relationships of xenodontine snakes inferred from 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA sequences.

The phylogenetic relationships of xenodontine snakes are inferred from sequence analyses of portions of two mitochondrial genes (12S and 16S ribosomal RNA) in 85 species. Although support values for most of the basal nodes are low, the general pattern of cladogenesis observed is congruent with many independent molecular, morphological, and geographical data. The monophyly of xenodontines and the basal position of North American xenodontines in comparison with Neotropical xenodontines are favored, suggesting an Asian-North American origin of xenodontines. West Indian xenodontines (including endemic genera and members of the genus Alsophis) appear to form a monophyletic group belonging to the South American clade. Their mid-Cenozoic origin by dispersal using ocean currents is supported. Within South American mainland xenodontines, the tribes Hydropsini, Pseudoboini, and Xenodontini are monophyletic. Finally, our results suggest that some morphological and ecological traits concerning maxillary dentition, macrohabitat use, and foraging strategy have appeared multiple times during the evolution of xenodontine snakes.

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphoadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman disease). Clinico-pathological analysis of a paediatric case.

Histochemical and immunohistochemical studies performed in only a few cases of sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphoadenopathy (SHML) indicated that SHML cells belong to the macrophage--histiocyte system, though their exact origin is still uncertain. We analyzed the morphological, antigenic and enzymatic characteristics of the histiocyte-like cells in one paediatric case of SHML (also named Rosai-Dorfman disease). The SHML cells expressed the S-100 protein, lectins concanavalin A, peanut agglutinin and monocyte-macrophage related antigens CD 11c, CD 14, CD 33, CD 68 and LN 5. Reactivity with other anti-macrophage antibodies (MAC387, lysozyme, alpha-1 anti-chymotrypsin) was variable. The CD1a antigen was present only in scattered cells, whereas HLA-DR and the HLA-DR associated invariant chain were absent. Cytochemistry demonstrated an intense activity of acid phosphatase and non specific esterase of SHML cells. A large amount of medium sized mononuclear cells were located in the sinuses and intersinusoidal tissue. Our findings suggest that SHML cells have intermediate features between phagocytes and Langerhans cells/interdigitating reticulum cells. The heterogeneity of marker expression on SHML cells might be related to the local content of factors (e.g., cytokines), capable of modulating the phenotype of monocyted and derived cells.

ALK positive lymphohistiocytic variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma in an adult.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The lymphohistiocytic (LH) variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) has, for a long time, been considered typical of children and adolescents. The aim of this study is a detailed characterization of a case of this peculiar ALCL subtype affecting an adult patient. DESIGN AND METHODS: A 36-year old male presented with diffuse adenopathy and systemic symptoms (high fever, anorexia, asthenia); a diagnosis of CD30+/ALK+ ALCL, LH variant, was morphologically suspected and corroborated by immunohistochemistry that was crucial for the definitive diagnosis and subtyping. RESULTS: The neoplastic population consisted of cells highly variable in size and shape but more often isolated and largely obscured by a predominant reactive cellular infiltrate of histiocytes and plasma cells. The lymphoma cells exhibited a null non-B non-T antigenic profile, but reacted strongly for the Ber-H2/CD30, EMA, ALKc anti-TIA-1 monoclonal antibodies. The patient underwent chemotherapy plus bone marrow transplantation and, one year after diagnosis, he is well and in complete remission. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide additional evidence that: a) ALK+ lymphoma represents a single disease with a broad spectrum of morphology; b) clinicians and pathologists should be aware of the possible occurrence of LH variant of ALK+ ALCL also in adults in whom a favorable response to therapy may be expected despite systemic disease and an aggressive clinical presentation.

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, CD30/Ki-1 positive, expressing the CD15/Leu-M1 antigen. Immunohistochemical and morphological relationships to Hodgkin's disease.

In this report we analyze the morphological and immunohistochemical findings observed in 5 cases of CD30/Ki-1 positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a recently recognized neoplastic entity. In comparison with the Ki-1 lymphomas so far described, these cases showed a fairly large number of Reed-Sternberg-like cells, often admixed with small lymphocytes and occasional eosinophils. Moreover, in all our cases immunohistochemical reactions detected the CD15/Leu-M1 antigen, together with markers of the T-lineage and of lymphoid activation. In previous studies the CD15/Leu-M1 antigen has been found in the majority of cases of Hodgkin's disease, but has been stated to be absent typically in Ki-1 lymphomas. Our results indicate that this antigen cannot be considered a reliable tool to distinguish between Ki-1 lymphomas and Hodgkin's disease. Furthermore, the morphological and immunohistochemical findings reported suggest that in some cases Ki-1 cell lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease may be closely related. They may represent different steps in the progression of the same lymphoproliferative disorder.

Nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease and large cell lymphoma. Immunophenotypic characterization of a composite case.

Composite lymphomas have rarely been reported in Hodgkin's disease (HD), except in the lymphocyte predominance sub-type, and immunohistochemical investigations have been performed in only few cases. We describe the histological and immunophenotypical findings in a case of composite nodular sclerosing HD and high-grade, large cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). In our case HD and NHL cells displayed striking morphological and immunophenotypical divergence, suggesting a lack of correlation between the two neoplasms.

Primary gastric CD30 (Ki-1)-positive large cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. A clinicopathologic analysis of six cases.

BACKGROUND: The CD30/Ki-1 antigen characterizes a series of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) predominantly showing anaplastic large cell (ALCL) morphology and frequently involving the skin and other extranodal sites. In cutaneous large cell lymphomas, the CD30 expression was indicated as a favorable prognostic marker independently from cytology, anaplastic versus nonanaplastic. The stomach is the most common site of extranodal lymphomas in the adult population, but primary gastric CD30+ lymphomas have been reported rarely. METHODS: The clinical, morphologic, and immunohistochemical features of six cases with primary CD30/Ki-1+ gastric large cell lymphomas were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 64 years with a prevalence of women (M:F ration = 1:2). Patients were assigned to Stage IE or IIE. Three of them died of disease, whereas the others are still alive (mean follow-up, 18 months). Three of six cases had ALCL morphology, whereas other cases had centroblastic, immunoblastic, and high-grade mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed a B-cell phenotype in three of six cases; a T-cell phenotype in one of six cases; and a null, non-B, non-T phenotype in two of six cases. CONCLUSIONS: Within CD30+ primary gastric large cell lymphomas, cytology, anaplastic versus nonanaplastic, did not affect clinical presentation and/or prognosis. The survival rate of the patients studied is in keeping with literature reports regarding prognosis of primary high-grade gastric NHL. The findings suggest that clinical behavior of this extranodal lymphoma is more closely related to clinical symptoms and initial stage of disease than to CD30 expression.

Reactive hemophagocytosis in Ki-l positive large cell lymphoma: a case study.

A case of large cell lymphoma presenting with hemophagocytic syndrome is reported. The clinicopathological findings suggested a diagnosis of malignant histiocytosis, but on the basis of immunohistological studies Ki-l lymphoma was diagnosed. Neoplastic cells expressed activation antigens such as HLA-DR, IL 2R, T10 and Ki-l, and showed high proliferative activity, but were devoid of T and B cell markers. The high percentage of reactive macrophages found in the bone marrow and lymph node probably reflected the release of lymphokines by the tumor population. The patient was treated with aggressive chemotherapy and is in complete remission at 8 months from diagnosis.

CD56/neural cell adhesion molecule expression in primary extranodal Ki-1/CD30+ lymphoma. Report of a pediatric case with simultaneous cutaneous and bone localizations.

We describe the clinicopathologic features of an unusual case of CD30+/CD50+ T-cell lymphoma in a child who presented with simultaneous primary extranodal cutaneous and bone localizations. The expression of CD56 (neural cell adhesion molecule, or NCAM) is rare in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas other than in a group of haematopoietic/lymphoid neoplasms of natural killer and natural killer-like T-cells, which usually involve extranodal sites and often pursue an aggressive clinical behavior. Coexpression of CD30 and CD56 in T-cell lymphomas is exceedingly rare, and its biological significance is unknown. Our patient responded well to an intensive chemotherapy regimen, and she is now in complete remission 4 years after discontinuation of chemotherapy. Expression of NCAM could be regarded as responsible, in part, for the extranodal localization of lymphoma cells; expression of CD56 also might contribute to the definition of a subset of CD30+ lymphomas with distinctive clinicopathologic features.