Project description:Primary gastrointestinal T/NK cell lymphoma (GI-TNKL) is an uncommon and heterogeneous group of lymphoid malignancies. We aimed to investigate their subtype distribution, clinicopathologic characteristics, and clinical outcomes. A total of 38 GI-TNKL cases and their clinical and pathological characteristics were analyzed. GI-TNKL occurred in adults with a median patient age in the sixth decade of life and showed a slight male predominance. The most common histologic type was extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (ENKTL; 34.2%), followed by monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL; 31.6%), intestinal T-cell lymphoma, NOS (ITCL, NOS, 18.4%), anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-negative (ALCL, ALK-; 13.2%). The small intestine was the primary affected region. More than 90% of patients complained of various GI symptoms and cases with advanced Lugano stage, high IPI score, or bowel perforation that required emergent operation were not uncommon. GI-TNKL also showed aggressive behavior with short progression-free survival and overall survival. This thorough clinical and pathological descriptive analysis will be helpful for accurate understanding, diagnosis, and treatment.
Project description:Primary diffuse large B cell lymphomas of different immune-privileged sites (IP-DLBCL) share many clinical and biological features, such as a relatively poor prognosis, preferential dissemination to other immune-privileged sites and deletion of the HLA region, which suggests that IP-DLBCL represents a separate entity. To further investigate the nature of IP-DLBCL, we investigated site-specific genomic aberrations in 16 testicular, 9 central nervous system (CNS) and 15 nodal DLBCL using array-CGH. We also determined minimal common regions of gain and loss. Using robust algorithms, the array-CGH data were combined with gene expression data to explore pathways deregulated by chromosomal aberrations. Keywords: comparative genomic hybridisation, gene expression, tumor type comparison Whole tissue sections of 16 testicular, 9 central nervous system (CNS) and 15 nodal DLBCL were used for isolation of genomic DNA and total RNA. Genomic aberrations were determined using an in house printed CGH array containing ~3700 large genomic insert clones. Gene expression was analyzed on Affymetrix HU133 plus 2.0 oligo arrays. Gene expression data and arrayCGH data were combined using the R program ACE-it.
Project description:NK/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is the most frequent EBV-related NK/T-cell disease. Its clinical manifestations overlap with those of familial haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHLH). Since PERFORIN (PRF1) mutations are present in FHLH, we analysed its role in a series of 12 nasal and 12 extranasal-NKTCLs. 12.5% of the tumours and 25% of the nasal-origin cases had the well-known g.272C>T(p.Ala91Val) pathogenic SNP, which confers a poor prognosis. Two of these cases had a double-CD4/CD8-positive immunophenotype, although no correlation was found with perforin protein expression. p53 was overexpressed in 20% of the tumoral samples, 80% of which were of extranasal origin, while none showed PRF1 SNVs. These results suggest that nasal and extranasal NKTCLs have different biological backgrounds, although this requires validation.
Project description:Cognitive dysfunction is a central nervous system (CNS) complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) that is characterized by impaired memory and cognitive ability. An in-depth understanding of metabolic alterations in the brain associated with DM will facilitate our understanding of the pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction. The present study used an in vitro culture of primary neurons in a high-glucose (HG) environment to investigate characteristic alterations in neuron metabolism using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabonomics. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was also used to measure changes in the adenosine phosphate levels in the hippocampal regions of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Our results revealed significant elevations in phosphocholine and ATP production in neurons and decreased formate, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), tyrosine, methionine, acetate and phenylalanine levels after HG treatment. However, the significant changes in lactate, glutamate, taurine and myo-inositol levels in astrocytes we defined previously in astrocytes, were not found in neurons, suggested cell-specific metabolic alterations. We also confirmed an astrocyte-neuron lactate shuttle between different compartments in the brain under HG conditions, which was accompanied by abnormal acetate transport. These alterations reveal specific information on the metabolite levels and transport processes related to neurons under diabetic conditions. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the metabolic alterations and underlying pathogenesis of cognitive decline in diabetic patients.
Project description:AimTo analyze the characterization of T-cell receptor-gamma (TCR-gamma) gene rearrangement in the gastrointestinal lymphomas and evaluate the value of PCR-SSCP analysis in gastrointestinal lymphomas investigation.MethodsTCR-gamma gene rearrangement segments of gastrointestinal lymphomas were cloned and sequenced. Single clone plasmid and mixed clone plasmids were subsequently submitted to PCR-SSCP analysis to investigate the relationship between the number of amplified clones and band patterns of the amplified products. The PCR products of TCR-gamma gene rearrangement of 40 gastrointestinal lymphomas were electrophoresed on agarose gels and the positive cases on agarose gels were studied by SSCP analysis.ResultsThe sequencing showed that TCR-gamma gene rearrangement of the gastrointestinal lymphomas included functional gene and pseudogene with extensive variety in the junctional regions. In SSCP analysis, the number of the single-stranded bands was about two times of the number of amplified clones, and double-stranded band became broad with the increased number of the amplified clones. Thirteen of the 25 B-cell gastrointestinal lymphomas and 14 of the 15 gastrointestinal T-cell lymphomas were positive detected on agarose gel electrophoresis. Of the positive cases detected by SSCP analysis, 3 B-cell lymphomas and 13 T-cell lymphomas showed positive bands. The other cases showed only smears. The rearranged pattern included 13 monoallelic gene rearrangements and 3 biallelic or oligoclonal gene rearrangements.ConclusionThe pattern of TCR-gamma gene rearrangement in gastrointestinal lymphomas are similar to that of the nodular lymphomas. PCR-SSCP analysis for TCR-gamma gene rearrangement can be applied both for adjuvant diagnosis of gastrointestinal lymphomas and analysis of the gene rearrangement pattern. The ratio of TCR-gamma gene rearrangements occurred in T-cell gastrointestinal lymphomas is significantly higher than that in B-cell gastrointestinal lymphomas. The gene rearrangement pattern involves monoallelic and biallelic (or oligoclonal) gene rearrangement.
Project description:T- and natural killer (NK)-cell lymphomas are challenging childhood neoplasms. These cancers have varying presentations, vast molecular heterogeneity, and several are quite unusual in the West, creating diagnostic challenges. Over 20 distinct T- and NK-cell neoplasms are recognized by the 2008 World Health Organization classification, demonstrating the diversity and potential complexity of these cases. In pediatric populations, selection of optimal therapy poses an additional quandary, as most of these malignancies have not been studied in large randomized clinical trials. Despite their rarity, exciting molecular discoveries are yielding insights into these clinicopathologic entities, improving the accuracy of our diagnoses of these cancers, and expanding our ability to effectively treat them, including the use of new targeted therapies. Here, we summarize this fascinating group of lymphomas, with particular attention to the three most common subtypes: T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and peripheral T-cell lymphoma-not otherwise specified. We highlight recent findings regarding their molecular etiologies, new biologic markers, and cutting-edge therapeutic strategies applied to this intriguing class of neoplasms.
Project description:PurposePrimary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma confined to the central nervous system. Whether there is a PCNSL-specific genomic signature and, if so, how it differs from systemic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is uncertain.Experimental designWe performed a comprehensive genomic study of tumor samples from 19 immunocompetent PCNSL patients. Testing comprised array-comparative genomic hybridization and whole exome sequencing.ResultsBiallelic inactivation of TOX and PRKCD was recurrently found in PCNSL but not in systemic DLBCL, suggesting a specific role in PCNSL pathogenesis. In addition, we found a high prevalence of MYD88 mutations (79%) and CDKN2A biallelic loss (60%). Several genes recurrently affected in PCNSL were common with systemic DLBCL, including loss of TNFAIP3, PRDM1, GNA13, TMEM30A, TBL1XR1, B2M, CD58, activating mutations of CD79B, CARD11, and translocations IgH-BCL6. Overall, B-cell receptor/Toll-like receptor/NF-κB pathways were altered in >90% of PNCSL, highlighting its value for targeted therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, integrated analysis showed enrichment of pathways associated with immune response, proliferation, apoptosis, and lymphocyte differentiation.ConclusionsIn summary, genome-wide analysis uncovered novel recurrent alterations, including TOX and PRKCD, helping to differentiate PCNSL from systemic DLBCL and related lymphomas.
Project description:T- and NK-cell lymphomas (TCL) are a heterogenous group of lymphoid malignancies with poor prognosis. In contrast to B-cell and myeloid malignancies, there are few preclinical models of TCLs, which has hampered the development of effective therapeutics. Here we establish and characterize preclinical models of TCL. We identify multiple vulnerabilities that are targetable with currently available agents (e.g., inhibitors of JAK2 or IKZF1) and demonstrate proof-of-principle for biomarker-driven therapies using patient-derived xenografts (PDXs). We show that MDM2 and MDMX are targetable vulnerabilities within TP53-wild-type TCLs. ALRN-6924, a stapled peptide that blocks interactions between p53 and both MDM2 and MDMX has potent in vitro activity and superior in vivo activity across 8 different PDX models compared to the standard-of-care agent romidepsin. ALRN-6924 induced a complete remission in a patient with TP53-wild-type angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, demonstrating the potential for rapid translation of discoveries from subtype-specific preclinical models.
Project description:There are no studies comparing the prognosis for mature T-cell lymphoma (TCL) in people with HIV (PWH) to people without HIV (PWoH) and to AIDS-defining B-cell lymphomas (A-BCLs) in the modern antiretroviral therapy era. North American AIDS Cohort Collaboration on Research and Design and Comprehensive Oncology Measures for Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma Treatment are cohorts that enroll patients diagnosed with HIV and TCL, respectively. In our study, 52, 64, 101, 500, and 246 PWH with histologic confirmation of TCL, primary central nervous system lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), respectively, and 450 TCLs without HIV were eligible for analysis. At the time of TCL diagnosis, anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) was the most common TCL subtype within PWH. Although PWH with TCL diagnosed between 1996 and 2009 experienced a low 5-year survival probability at 0.23 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.13, 0.41), we observed a marked improvement in their survival when diagnosed between 2010 and 2016 (0.69; 95% CI: 0.48, 1; P = .04) in contrast to TCLs among PWoH (0.45; 95% CI: 0.41, 0.51; P = .53). Similarly, PWH with ALCLs diagnosed between 1996 and 2009 were associated with a conspicuously inferior 5-year survival probability (0.17; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.42) and consistently lagged behind A-BCL subtypes such as Burkitt's (0.43; 95% CI:0.33, 0.57; P = .09) and DLBCL (0.17; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.46; P = .11) and behind HL (0.57; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.65; P < .0001). Despite a small number, those diagnosed between 2010 and 2016 experienced a remarkable improvement in survival (0.67; 95% CI: 0.3, 1) in comparison with PWoH (0.76; 95% CI: 0.66, 0.87; P = .58). Thus, our analysis confirms improved overall survival for aggressive B- and T-cell malignancies among PWH in the last decade.