MUM-1 expression differentiates AITL with HRS-like cells from cHL.

MUM1 is a member of the interferon regulatory factor family of transcription factors. It is normally expressed in plasma cells, late B cells, and activated T cells, and has been described in several B-cell malignancies and some T-cell neoplasms. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of MUM-1/IRF4 protein in differentiating angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (AITL) with Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg (HRS)-like cells from cHL. We identified 12 cases of AITL with HRS-like cells and 24 cases of cHL from March 2013 to November 2014. IHC for MUM-1/IRF4 protein was performed on the tissue of these cases and some relevant positive and negative controls. MUM-1 was expressed in HRS-like cells and some neoplastic T-cells in AITL with HRS-like cells (12/12, 100%) and formed the rosettes around the HRS-like cells (12/12, 100%), expressed in HRS cells in classic Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) (24/24, 100%) and just one case formed rosettes around the HRS cells (1/24, 4.2%). Based on the results, MUM-1 could be a useful marker for the differential diagnosis between AITL with HRS-like cells and cHL.