Transformation of a low-grade follicular lymphoma into a composite lymphoma combining a high-grade B-cell lymphoma and a lymphoblastic neoplasm expressing Terminal deoxynucleotidyl Transferase: a case report

The two most common types of mature B-cell neoplasms in Western countries are diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) [1]. In 5–15% of DLBCL cases, the MYC is rearranged [2] and frequently associated with BCL2 or, to a lesser extent, BCL6 translocations. These are referred to as “double-hit” or “triple-hit” lymphomas and fit the new category of high-grade B-cell lymphoma (HGBL) in the World Health Organization (WHO) updated classification system [3]. The expression of surface immunoglobulins generally indicates a mature B-cell phenotype. B-acute lymphoblastic leukemias/lymphomas (B-ALLs) are characteristically negative for surface immunoglobulins and express a phenotype of B-cell precursors, including frequent positivity for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) and CD34 [4]. The association between HGBL and the expression of immaturity markers has only rarely been described. In a retrospective study, Moench et al. presented 13 cases of HGBL, 4 of which are characterized by the expression of TdT [5]. Furthermore, a recent study described a case of HGBL with surface light chain restriction and TdT expression [6]. The present case report describes a case involving the transformation of a low-grade FL into a composite lymphoma combining HGBL and a lymphoblastic neoplasm expressing TdT.

In September 2010, a 51-year-old Caucasian man was diagnosed with multiple lymphadenopathy (clinical stage IV). His previous medical history only contained episodes of hepatitis B and C (successfully treated in 1990), and he reported no familial or psychosocial medical problems. The patient had no B symptoms but presented with a poor performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] 2) and a high Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index score. The pathological examination performed on a lymph node biopsy established the diagnosis of a grade 1–2 FL. As a first-line treatment, the patient received six cycles of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vindesine, and prednisone (R-CHOP), followed by 2 years of rituximab maintenance. A partial response was achieved after R-CHOP and reached complete response (CR) after the first three rituximab maintenance cycles. In 2013, however, after eight rituximab cycles, new lesions appeared, with notably an enlarged cervical lymph node measuring 2 cm in diameter; at that time, the patient’s performance status was ECOG 2. A cutaneous biopsy confirmed the relapse of the grade 1–2 FL, and a second-line treatment consisting of six cycles of a bendamustine and rituximab regimen was provided. The patient again reached a CR by the end of this treatment. Eight months later, a second relapse occurred, this time with a loss of CD20 expression. Thus, a third-line treatment involving idelalisib was prescribed. However, after 3 months, this medication was determined to be responsible for interstitial pneumonitis and was therefore stopped. Two months later, the patient presented with a third progression, characterized by a severe deterioration of his performance status and the appearance of a retroperitoneal mass. In September 2015, the biopsy of this mass determined that the FL had transformed into a composite lymphoma combining HGBL and lymphoblastic neoplasm expressing TdT. The patient therefore began a fourth-line treatment, including a debulking program and the combination of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone. He died of multivisceral failure a few weeks later.

Immunohistochemical staining was performed using a Roche Ventana BenchMark ULTRA immunostainer (Ventana Medical Systems, Oro Valley, AZ, USA) with the following primary antibodies: BCL2 (anti-BCL2, clone 124, 1:40; Dako, Carpinteria, CA, USA), BCL6 (anti-BCL6, clone GI191E/A8, prediluted; Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN, USA), CD20 (anti-CD20cy, clone L26, 1:800; Dako), TdT (anti-TdT, polyclonal, 1:60; Cell Marque, Rocklin, CA, USA), and CD10 (anti-CD10, clone 56C6, 1:40; Cell Marque). Chromogenic detection was realized using an ultraView Universal Detection Kit (Roche).

For the cytological examination, the lymph node imprints and the ascites cytospin preparation were stained with May-Grünwald-Giemsa.

For immunophenotyping by flow cytometry (FCM), the cells extracted from the ascites fluid were first washed twice, then stained with antibodies using a direct immunofluorescence method involving erythrocyte lysis and washing. The rest of the analysis was performed using a three-laser, eight-color BD FACSCanto II TM flow cytometer and FACSDiva software (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA, USA). The following antibodies were used: V500-CD45 (HI30; BD Biosciences), PE-Cy7-CD19 (J3-119; BD Biosciences), FITC-CD43 (1G10; BD Biosciences), PE-CD23 (EBVCS-5; BD Biosciences), PerCP-Cy5.5-CD38 (HIT2; BD Biosciences), APC-CD10 (HI10A; BD Biosciences), APC-CD22 (S-HCL-1; BD Biosciences), APC-H7-CD20 (2H7; BD Biosciences), FITC-CD44 (J.173; Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA), PE-CD24 (ALB9; Beckman Coulter), FITC-TdT (HT-6; Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA), and FITC-Fab′₂ rabbit antihuman kappa/PE-Fab′₂ rabbit antihuman lambda light chains (Agilent Technologies).

Cytogenetic analysis was realized on the cell suspensions after 17 hours of unstimulated culture using R-banded metaphase chromosomes. The fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies were achieved using two probes (LSI IGH/BCL2 and LSI MYC) according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Vysis Inc., Downers Grove, IL, United States of America (USA)).

Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from tumor cells according to standard procedures using a QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). The clonal IGH rearrangements were characterized by the amplification of IGH variable framework regions 1, 2, and 3 (FR1, FR2, and FR3) using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and heteroduplex analyses as previously described [7]. The PCR products were examined on 6% acrylamide gels with bands of the appropriate size.

The IGHV-D-J gene rearrangements were analyzed by PCR using IGHV family-specific FR1 primers and the antisense IGHJ primer. The positive IGHV products were selected for sequencing. Sequencing reactions were purified and direct sequencing was performed using the ABI PRISM 3100 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). Sequence analysis was completed using the V-QUEST international ImMunoGeneTics information system (www.​imgt.​org/​IMGT_​vquest). Output data from IMGT/V-QUEST was used to determine the IGHV gene use and the percentage homology to the germline.

On the one hand, the first lymph node biopsy in September 2010 revealed a nodular proliferation (Fig. 1a), with predominantly centrocytic cells (Fig. 1b) expressing Bcl-2 (Fig. 1c), CD20, and CD10 as well as rare centroblastic cells. The CD21 immunostaining highlighted the follicular dendritic cell meshwork (Fig. 1d). Furthermore, the karyotype was complex and included the classical t(14;18)(q32;q21) IGH/BCL2 translocation, as confirmed by FISH (Fig. 2a, Table 1). Moreover, FISH detected a gain of MYC without rearrangement (190/200 nuclei with 3 MYC signals) (Table 1). Finally, the FCM performed on the blood and lymph node demonstrated a high CD45, CD10⁺CD20⁺CD22⁺CD24⁺CD43⁻ population of monotypic B-cells, with surface light chain kappa restriction (Fig. 3a). On the other hand, in September 2015, the morphological and immunohistochemical analyses of the retroperitoneal mass found a diffuse lymphoid proliferation (without nodular pattern), in which a double tumor population was identified:

These two populations were mutually exclusive for Bcl-6 and TdT on a double-staining evaluation, confirming the presence of two cellular contingents (Fig. 4e).

The FCM performed on the ascites fluid also highlighted a population of immature B cells expressing CD43, CD10, high CD38 and CD24, and TdT. The pan-B markers CD20 and CD22 and the surface immunoglobulins were downregulated (Fig. 3b).

Moreover, cytogenetic analyses revealed a t(14;18)(q32;q21) associated with a t(8;22)(q24;q11) (Fig. 4 and Table 1). The MYC+/BCL2+ “double hit” was validated by FISH (Table 1).

In addition, PCR and sequencing were used to study the clonal relationship between the three tumors. The PCR analysis confirmed the presence of an IGVH rearrangement in all specimens (Table 2). Sequence analyses revealed a unique and identical clonal IGVH rearrangement involving the IGVH4–59 subset in all the samples. Moreover, the rearranged VH gene sequences were characterized by 85% homology with the corresponding germline sequences and therefore corresponded to somatically hypermutated V genes. Taken together, these data suggest that the specimens all came from a unique clonal expansion of a hypermutated IGVH4–59 rearranged B cell.

The accurate classification of lymphoid neoplasms is vital to determining subsequent therapy. This is why neoplasms with B-lymphoid cell lineage are broadly placed into the same category as lymphomas with a precursor B-cell phenotype and those with a mature B-cell phenotype. This classification has been extended in the latest update of the WHO guidelines, in which TdT and CD34 expression are considered exclusive for precursor B-cell neoplasms, whereas surface light chain restriction generally indicates a mature phenotype [3]. The transformation of FL into DLBCL occurs in approximately 30% of patients, but transformation into B-ALL is rare, with most cases characterized an MYC rearrangement in addition to an IGH/BCL2 fusion [2, 8‐15]. FL can also transform into a composite lymphoma, combining a HGBL with BCL2 and/or BCL6 and MYC rearrangements, and a B-ALL characterized by a loss of maturity markers, such as CD20 and surface immunoglobulins [2, 8‐15].

As in our patient, the presence of an extra copy of MYC in an FL diagnosis has not previously been associated with a poor patient prognosis. A recent study of DLBCL likewise does not demonstrate a correlation between the gain of MYC and disease outcome [16]. Moreover, the combination of a t(14;18) with an additional copy of intact MYC has never been found to be associated with transformation [17].

The present report describes a case in which an initial FL subsequently transformed into a composite lymphoma characterized by an HGBL and a B-ALL-like tumor, with distinct morphological and immunophenotypic patterns. Similar findings have been reported in some recent literature on biclonal lymphomas [18, 19].

The genetic analyses in our patient’s case also demonstrate that this composite lymphoma and the initial FL have a single common ancestral clone with the same unique IGVH4–59 rearrangement, almost the same percentage homology and the same germline VH sequence. Thus, the presence of a hypermutated IGVH strongly suggests that all the cells composing the tumor come from germinal center mature B cells. This points toward a B-lymphoblastic lymphoma-like tumor rather than a conventional B-ALL. The clonal affiliation of the follicular karyotype with the t(14; 18) of the three entities consolidates molecular data and also indicates a germinal center of origin for the B-lymphoblastic lymphoma-like tumor.

The mechanism of FL transformation in B-lymphoblastic lymphoma is not well understood, and different models have been proposed to explain its mechanism. The first model involves the “dedifferentiation” of lymphoma cells into more immature stages as a result of secondary genetic events. This is compatible with our patient’s case. The second model suggests that the two transformed neoplasms arise from a common B-cell clone, which in one case transforms into a DLBCL and in the other case “dedifferentiates” into a more immature stage. This second model is also compatible with our patient’s case. A third model proposes the presence of an additional minor undetected clone at the time of presentation, which is impossible in our patient’s case; in fact, all the clones in our patient were revealed to share a common origin.

The present case report demonstrates the transformation of an FL into an HGBL with immature features, particularly TdT positivity. This particular transformation seems to be associated with a rapid progression of the disease and an unfavorable outcome.