Molecular detection of a B cell clone in a case of PTCL in the absence of T cell clonality

✍ Scribed by J. L. Smith; E. Hodges; C. T. Quin; D. H. Wright

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 50 KB
• Volume: 15
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0278-0232
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-1069(199705)15:2<63::aid-hon599>3.0.co;2-w

✦ Synopsis

In this paper we document a case of peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) that exhibited variable T cell histology at presentation and follow-up. Southern blot analysis for T cell receptor (TCR) and immunoglobulin (Ig) receptor gene rearrangements failed to reveal clonal T or B cell populations. TCR (TCRG) and (TCRB) chain gene polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA isolated from biopsies was also consistent with polyclonal T cell populations, however Ig PCR revealed clonal Ig rearrangements in follow-up biopsies but not in the presentation biopsy. There was no histological evidence for a neoplastic B cell population in these biopsies although occasional EB virus positive blasts were present. The significance of a cryptic B cell clone is unknown but suggests a relationship with the proliferating polyclonal T cells in this case of PTCL. These data reflect the complexity of PTCL with implications for treatment and patient management. 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.