Hyperactivated STAT3 in ALK-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with clathrin-ALK fusion

Hum Pathol. 2009 Jan;40(1):75-82. doi: 10.1016/j.humpath.2008.06.009. Epub 2008 Aug 27.

Abstract

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive large B-cell lymphoma is a rare subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Although a few cases of ALK-positive large B-cell lymphoma harbor nucleophosmin-ALK chromosomal translocation similar to ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma, most reported cases are characterized by t(2;17)(p23;q23) involving the clathrin gene. Here, we report 2 cases of ALK-positive DLBCL. The 2 cases presented similar morphologic features and immunohistochemical characteristics, that is, positivity for ALK, IgA, CD138, and MUM1; weak positivity for CD30 and CD79a; and negativity for CD20. The clathrin-ALK transcript was identified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and the sequence was determined by direct sequencing. Recently, the essential role of STAT3 activation as well as STAT 5 activation in nucleophosmin-ALK fusion protein-mediated lymphomagenesis was reported. However, differential effects of ALK-fusion variant proteins on proliferation, transformation, and invasion properties were reported. Thus, we evaluated the phosphorylation status of STAT 3 and STAT 5, and found highly hyperphosphorylated STAT 3 on tyrosine 705 but not STAT 5 in our 2 cases of ALK-positive DLBCL with clathrin-ALK fusion. Furthermore, STAT 5A expression was not detected in either of the ALK-positive DLBCL cases, although 11 of the 36 ALK-negative DLBCL cases revealed STAT 5A expression. Expression of the antiapoptotic proteins survivin and BCL-X(L), which were believed to be the targets of STAT 3, was investigated. However, there were no significant associations between expression of survivin or BCL-X(L) and ALK positivity among the diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. In summary, similar signaling transduction mechanism involving STAT proteins seems to underlie DLBCL harboring the clathrin-ALK or nucleophosmin-ALK fusion gene.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Clathrin / genetics*
  • Clathrin / metabolism
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Cytarabine / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / genetics*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Recurrence
  • Remission Induction
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Clathrin
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • Cytarabine
  • Vincristine
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • ALK protein, human
  • Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Prednisone

Supplementary concepts

  • CHOP protocol