Clinical and pathological features of Burkitt lymphoma showing expression of BCL 2 – an analysis including gene expression in formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue

• Published in: British journal of haematology Vol. 171; no. 4; pp. 501 - 508
• Main Authors: Masqué‐Soler, Neus, Szczepanowski, Monika, Kohler, Christian W., Aukema, Sietse M., Nagel, Inga, Richter, Julia, Siebert, Reiner, Spang, Rainer, Burkhardt, Birgit, Klapper, Wolfram
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.11.2015
• ISSN: 0007-1048; 1365-2141
• DOI: 10.1111/bjh.13624

Summary The differential diagnosis between Burkitt lymphoma ( BL ) and diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma ( DLBCL ) can be challenging. BL has been reported to express less BCL 2 than DLBCL , but this issue has not been analysed systematically. BL expressing BCL 2 can be considered to be MYC / BCL 2 co‐expressors, a feature that is associated with poorer outcome in DLBCL but that has not been correlated with outcome in BL so far. We analysed the expression of BCL 2 in 150 cases of conventionally diagnosed BL using two different BCL 2 antibodies. BCL 2 expression was detected in 23% of the cases, though the expression varied in intensity and number of positive cells. We did not detect any relevant differences in clinical presentation and outcome between BCL 2‐positive and BCL 2‐negative BL in a subgroup of 43 cases for which detailed clinical data were available. An independent cohort of 17 BL with expression of BCL 2 were analysed molecularly, with 13 of 17 cases classified as molecularly defined BL (Burkitt Lymphoma) using gene expression profiling on formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissues. The four lymphomas diagnosed molecularly as intermediates did not differ in clinical presentation and outcome from molecularly defined BL .