The Study Of IgH And TCR Gene Rearrangement Of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas

Objective To investigate progression and heterogeneity during the generation of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas ( NHL) and its significance to classification and therapy in detecting IgH and TCR gene rearrangement. Methods DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 74 NHL patients and 10 ALCL ( anaplastia large cell lymphoma, a special type of NHL) patients. Analysis with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) and T cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement was carried out. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to detect CD20,CD45RO,CD30 expression. Results 27out of 74 NHL cases showed TCR gene rearrangement and 49 showed IgH gene rearrangement. Rearrangement of both IgH and TCR genes were detected in 8 cases. 10 out 10 ALCL cases showed TCR gene rearrangement and 4 showed IgH gene rearrangement. Rearrangement of both IgH and TCR genes were detected in4 cases. 1 out 10 ALCL cases detected classic chromosome transmitter t(2; 5)(p23; q35). 22 out of 74 NHL cases showed CD45RO positive expression , 48 out of 74 NHL cases showed CD20 positive expression . 3 out of 74 NHL cases showed both CD45RO and CD20 positive expression. 10out of 10 ALCL cases showed CD30 positive expression,5 out of 10 ALCL cases showed CD45RO positive expression, 2 out of 10 ALCL cases showed CD20 positive expression , 2 out of 10 ALCL cases showed both CD45RO and CD20 positive expression, 1 out of 10 ALCL cases showed neitherCD45RO nor CD20 positive expression. All the cases showing both CD45RO and CD20 positive expression came up to both IgH and TCR genes rearrangement. Conclusions 1. Progression and heterogeneity during the generation of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas will influence the gene rearrangement and immuno-expression of NHL. 2. Part of NHL cases probably is stem cell type and may be classified isolately in terms of rearrangement of both IgH and TCR genes .immunohistochemistry staining and prognosis. 3. ALCL is a kind of disease whose malignant degree is between HD and NHL. Almost half of the 10 cases showing both IgH and TCR gene rearrangement indicate that ALCL may progress a kind of double differentiation and be a typical heterogeneity of lymphoma malignant transformation. 4. We can design suitable primers for general PCR to detect transmitter t(2; 5) of ALCL.