TCL1 and CLA expression in agranular CD4/CD56 hematodermic neoplasms (blastic NK-cell lymphomas) and leukemia cutis

Am J Clin Pathol. 2004 Aug;122(2):307-13. doi: 10.1309/0QPP-AVTU-PCV9-UCLV.

Abstract

Agranular CD4/CD56 hematodermic neoplasm (CD4/CD56 HN), also termed blastic natural killer cell lymphoma, is characterized by a peculiar immunophenotype and high skin tropism. The lineage of origin is not known, and a plasmacytoid dendritic cell derivation has been proposed. CD4/CD56 HN generally is diagnosed by using tumor skin biopsy, with the most important differential diagnosis being myelomonocytic leukemia cutis. We evaluated the expression of 2 plasmacytoid dendritic cell antigens, T-cell leukemia 1 (TCL1) and cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA), in 29 cases of CD4/CD56 HN and 18 cases of myelomonocytic leukemia cutis. TCL1 and CLA were expressed in 26 (90%) of 29 CD4/CD56 HN cases vs TCL1 expression in 3 (17%) and CLA expression in 14 (78%) of 18 leukemia cutis cases. Furthermore, CLA antiserum displays a peculiar small-dot staining pattern in CD4/CD56 HN. These results suggest that TCL1 and CLA are good markers for CD4/CD56 HN tumor cells and add support for a plasmacytoid dendritic cell origin. The high skin tropism of CD4/CD56 HN might be related to the skin-homing property of CLA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • CD4 Antigens / immunology
  • CD4 Antigens / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD56 Antigen / immunology
  • CD56 Antigen / metabolism
  • Cell Lineage / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Killer Cells, Natural / pathology
  • Leukemia / diagnosis*
  • Leukemia / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / diagnosis*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous / metabolism
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / biosynthesis*
  • Middle Aged
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / metabolism

Substances

  • Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CD4 Antigens
  • CD56 Antigen
  • CTAGE1 protein, human
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • TCL1A protein, human