BACKGROUND: Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) usually characterized by a T-helper memory phenotype (CD3+, CD4+, CD8-, CD45R0+). Aberrant phenotypes are more commonly seen in the tumor stages. CD45RA expression has so far been documented in only a few cases of CD8+ or TCR gamma delta+ CTCL and in some pagetoid reticulosis cases. METHODS: Two hundred and fifteen MF patients were immunophenotyped in our laboratory between January 1992 and June 2000 and 22 cases of CD45RA+ MF (8.7%) were identified by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: The majority of these CD45RA+ patients (20/22) showed a patch-plaque stage disease and an indolent clinical course, as expected in early-stage MF. The remaining 2 patients presented with stage IIB and IVA MF, and were characterized by an aggressive clinical course, with systemic spread. The immunohistochemical analysis revealed that CD45RA+ neoplastic cells belonged to the memory compartment, displaying a CD62L-, CD11a+, CD29+ phenotype. Most patients showed aberrant phenotypes, with a loss of T-cell lineage markers and expression of cytotoxic molecules or gamma-delta chain of the T-cell receptor. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that CD45RA+ MF is a rare variant of CTCL and shares with the classic MF cases both the clinical features and disease course, even if it is characterized by a higher incidence of immunopathological abnormalities.
BACKGROUND:Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) usually characterized by a T-helper memory phenotype (CD3+, CD4+, CD8-, CD45R0+). Aberrant phenotypes are more commonly seen in the tumor stages. CD45RA expression has so far been documented in only a few cases of CD8+ or TCR gamma delta+ CTCL and in some pagetoid reticulosis cases. METHODS: Two hundred and fifteen MF patients were immunophenotyped in our laboratory between January 1992 and June 2000 and 22 cases of CD45RA+ MF (8.7%) were identified by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: The majority of these CD45RA+ patients (20/22) showed a patch-plaque stage disease and an indolent clinical course, as expected in early-stage MF. The remaining 2 patients presented with stage IIB and IVA MF, and were characterized by an aggressive clinical course, with systemic spread. The immunohistochemical analysis revealed that CD45RA+ neoplastic cells belonged to the memory compartment, displaying a CD62L-, CD11a+, CD29+ phenotype. Most patients showed aberrant phenotypes, with a loss of T-cell lineage markers and expression of cytotoxic molecules or gamma-delta chain of the T-cell receptor. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that CD45RA+ MF is a rare variant of CTCL and shares with the classic MF cases both the clinical features and disease course, even if it is characterized by a higher incidence of immunopathological abnormalities.
Authors: Joan Guitart; M Estela Martinez-Escala; Antonio Subtil; Madeleine Duvic; Melissa P Pulitzer; Elise A Olsen; Ellen Kim; Alain H Rook; Sara S Samimi; Gary S Wood; Michael Girardi; Jacqueline Junkins-Hopkins; Doina S Ivan; M Angelica Selim; Kimberly A Sable; Pooja Virmani; Laura B Pincus; Michael T Tetzlaff; Jinah Kim; Youn H Kim Journal: Mod Pathol Date: 2017-01-27 Impact factor: 7.842
Authors: James T Edinger; Beth Z Clark; Brian E Pucevich; Larisa J Geskin; Steven H Swerdlow Journal: Am J Surg Pathol Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 6.394