Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK positive
Template:DiseaseDisorder infobox Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Alberto Plate [2]
Synonyms and keywords: ALCL-ALK(+)
Overview
The Anaplastic large cell lymphoma ALK-positive (Anaplastic Llymphoma Kinase) consist of CD30-positive T-cells with abundant cytoplasm, a pleomorphic nucleus (horseshoe-shaped nucleus) and a eosinophilic paranuclear region[1]. This ALK-positive lymphoma has a translocation in the ALK gene [T(2;5)(p23;q35)], which will in turn, express the ALK protein[2].
Historical Perspective
Classification
Morphologic Classification[3]
Classical Variants
- Common pattern ALK positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma
Atypical Variants
- Small cell ALK positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma
- Lymphohistiocytic ALK positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma
- Giant cell ALK positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma
- Hodgkin's like ALK positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma
Rare Variants
- Sarcomatoid ALK positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma
Pathophysiology
ALCL morphologic features are variable, which allowed to classify this entity into five morphologic patterns[2]:
- "Common" pattern: Its the most common morphologic variant (75%)[4]. Cytoplasm may be basophilic or eosinophilic and the cell might have many nuclei with dispersed or clumped chromatin. In large cells, nucleoli tends to be more prominent. Given that the lymphomatous cells grow in the lymph node's sinuses, it may resemble a metastatic tumor.
- Lymphohistiocytic pattern (10%): histiocytes with acidophilic cytoplasm and a perinuclear clear area, which represents the Golgi apparatus. This cells have eccentric nuclei with condensed chromatin[5]. Lymphomatous cells tend tu cluster around the perivascular area, evidenced by immunostaining with CD30 and ALK antibodies[2].
- Hodgkin's like pattern (3.3%): Morphological characteristics reassemble Hodgkin's lymphoma, variant nodular sclerosis[6]. Predominates in female patients over male patients.
- Small cell pattern (8.3%): Present nuclear irregularity and perivascular/intravascular distribution[7]. Occasionally, this lymphomatous cells have pale cytoplasm with a central nucleus ("fried egg cell")[2].
- Giant cell pattern (3.3%)
One single patient may present more than one morphologic pattern in the same or progressive biopsies[1].
Causes
The ALK positive Anaplastic large cell lymphoma has a rearrangement in the Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK) gene. The most frequent gene translocation is T(2;5)(p23;q35)[8]. This translocation produces a chimeric protein between the nucleolar phosphoprotein (NPM) gene (5q35) a ALK gene (2p23), which has structural similarity to the insulin growth factor receptor.[9] Normal T-cells require IL-2 as a growth factor, while T-cells of patients with ALK positive Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, have a constitutive activating IL-2 receptor, caused by the new NMP-ALK chimeric protein.[10]
Other genetic gene mutations include[11]:
- T(1;2), encoding a tropomyosin3 (TPM3)/ALK fusion protein (10 to 20 percent of cases)
- T(2;3), encoding a TRK fusion gene (TFP)/ALK fusion protein (2 to 5 percent of cases)
- Inv(2), encoding a ATIC (Pur H gene)/ALK fusion protein (2 to 5 percent of cases)
- T(2;17), encoding a clathrin heavy (CLTC)/ALK fusion protein (2 to 5 percent of cases)
- T(2;17), encoding a ALO17/ALK fusion protein (2 to 5 percent of cases)
- T(2;19), encoding a tropomyosin 4 (TPM4)/ALK fusion protein (<1 percent of cases)
- T(2;22), encoding a non-muscle myosin (MYH9)/ALK fusion protein (<1 percent of cases)
Differential Diagnosis
Epidemiology and Demographics
This entity affects primarily young, male patients[12] and accounts for 3% of all NHL, 40% of all large cell lymphomas[13] and 10%-20% of childhood lymphomas, although it is particularly incident in patients between 10 and 29 years[14].
A more recent study evaluated 1,320 cases of peripheral T-cell lymphomas and NK cell lymphomas between 1990 and 2002 in 22 different centers, concluding that the ALK-Positive ALCL is the fifth most incident (6.6% of total patients)[15], although in the United states, it's the most frequent type of peripheral T-cell lymphoma.
Risk Factors
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Most adult patients present with painless lymphadenopathy. Although retroperitoneal and peripheral[16] lymphadenopathy is very common, other possible locations include the gastrointestinal tract, breast[17], spleen[18], liver[19], bone[19] and respiratory tract[20].
Common symptoms include typical B symptoms[21](Fever, weight loss and night sweats).
Laboratory Findings[22]
- Anemia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels
Treatment
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Benharroch D, Meguerian-Bedoyan Z, Lamant L, Amin C, Brugières L, Terrier-Lacombe MJ; et al. (1998). "ALK-positive lymphoma: a single disease with a broad spectrum of morphology". Blood. 91 (6): 2076–84. PMID 9490693.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Swerdlow, Steven (2008). WHO classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. ISBN 9789283224310.
- ↑ "The anaplastic lymphoma kinase in the pathogenesis of cancer". Unknown parameter
|A188154738&docType=ignored (help) - ↑ Falini B, Bigerna B, Fizzotti M, Pulford K, Pileri SA, Delsol G; et al. (1998). "ALK expression defines a distinct group of T/null lymphomas ("ALK lymphomas") with a wide morphological spectrum". Am J Pathol. 153 (3): 875–86. doi:10.1016/S0002-9440(10)65629-5. PMC 1853018. PMID 9736036.
- ↑ "Frequent Expression ofthe NPM-ALK Chimeric Fusion Protein inAnaplastic Large-Cell Lymphoma, Lympho-Histiocytic Type" (PDF).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Vassallo J, Lamant L, Brugieres L, Gaillard F, Campo E, Brousset P; et al. (2006). "ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma mimicking nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's lymphoma: report of 10 cases". Am J Surg Pathol. 30 (2): 223–9. PMID 16434897.
- ↑ Kinney MC, Collins RD, Greer JP, Whitlock JA, Sioutos N, Kadin ME (1993). "A small-cell-predominant variant of primary Ki-1 (CD30)+ T-cell lymphoma". Am J Surg Pathol. 17 (9): 859–68. PMID 8394652.
- ↑ Morris SW, Kirstein MN, Valentine MB, Dittmer KG, Shapiro DN, Saltman DL; et al. (1994). "Fusion of a kinase gene, ALK, to a nucleolar protein gene, NPM, in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma". Science. 263 (5151): 1281–4. PMID 8122112.
- ↑ "Fusion of kinase gene, ALK, to a nucleolar protein gene, NPM, in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma". Unknown parameter
|A15341631&docType=ignored (help) - ↑ "Fusion of kinase gene, ALK, to a nucleolar protein gene, NPM, in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma". Unknown parameter
|A15341631&docType=ignored (help) - ↑ "The anaplastic lymphoma kinase in the pathogenesis of cancer".
- ↑ Stein H, Foss HD, Dürkop H, Marafioti T, Delsol G, Pulford K; et al. (2000). "CD30(+) anaplastic large cell lymphoma: a review of its histopathologic, genetic, and clinical features". Blood. 96 (12): 3681–95. PMID 11090048.
- ↑ "ALK+ Lymphoma: Clinico-Pathological Findings and Outcome".
- ↑ "ALK+ Lymphoma: Clinico-Pathological Findings and Outcome".
- ↑ "International Peripheral T-Cell and Natural Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma Study: Pathology Findings and Clinical Outcomes" (PDF).
- ↑ Yu G, Gao Z, Huang X (2014). "ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma with an unusual alveolar growth pattern". Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 7 (12): 9086–9. PMC 4314028. PMID 25674293.
- ↑ Gidengil CA, Predmore Z, Mattke S, van Busum K, Kim B (2014). "Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma: a systematic review". Plast Reconstr Surg. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000001037. PMID 25490539.
- ↑ Hebeda KM, MacKenzie MA, van Krieken JH (2000). "A case of anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma presenting with spontaneous splenic rupture: an extremely unusual presentation". Virchows Arch. 437 (4): 459–64. PMID 11097375.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Grewal JS, Smith LB, Winegarden JD, Krauss JC, Tworek JA, Schnitzer B (2007). "Highly aggressive ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma with a leukemic phase and multi-organ involvement: a report of three cases and a review of the literature". Ann Hematol. 86 (7): 499–508. doi:10.1007/s00277-007-0289-3. PMID 17396261.
- ↑ Tan DS, Eng PC, Lim ST, Thye LS, Tao M (2008). "Primary tracheal lymphoma causing respiratory failure". J Thorac Oncol. 3 (8): 929–30. doi:10.1097/JTO.0b013e318180271d. PMID 18670314.
- ↑ "T-cell lymphomas (Lymphoma Association)" (PDF).
- ↑ "ALK− anaplastic large-cell lymphoma is clinically and immunophenotypically different from both ALK+ ALCL and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified: report from the International Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma Project".