Immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene rearrangements in Hodgkin's disease and Ki-1-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma: dissociation between phenotype and genotype.

We have determined the tumor cell immunophenotype and the rearrangement configuration of immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes in 39 cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD), six HD-derived cell lines and 22 cases of Ki-1-positive anaplastic large cell lymphomas (Ki-1-ALC). Rearrangements were observed in 11/39 HD cases, 15/22 Ki-1-ALC, and all cell lines. Epstein-Barr virus DNA was found in five HD cases, one cell line, and one Ki-1-ALC. Both HD and Ki-1-ALC frequently displayed a dissociated genotypic and phenotypic maturation status, i.e. an immature genotype in association with late activation markers. We postulate that the tumor cells in many cases of HD and some cases of Ki-1-ALC may be derived from immature lymphoid cells by a transformation process that superimposes characteristics of mature activated lymphocytes on these cells.