Extranodal nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma: a rare oral presentation and FASN, CD44 and GLUT-1 expression

Braz Dent J. 2013;24(3):284-8. doi: 10.1590/0103-6440201302202.

Abstract

Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma is an aggressive malignant tumor with distinctive clinicopathological features, characterized by vascular invasion and destruction, prominent necrosis, cytotoxic lymphocyte phenotype and a strong association with Epstein-Barr virus. Here is reported an extranodal nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma case, involving the maxillary sinus, floor of the orbit, and interestingly extending to the oral cavity through the alveolar bone and buccal mucosa, preserving the palate, leading to a primary misdiagnosis of aggressive periodontal disease. Moreover, this work investigated for the first time the immunohistochemical expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT-1) proteins in this neoplasia. FASN showed strong cytoplasmatic expression in the neoplastic cells, whereas GLUT-1 and CD44 were negative. These findings suggest that the expression of FASN and the loss of CD44 might be involved in the pathogenesis of the extranodal nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma, and that GLUT-1 may not participate in the survival adaptation of the tumor cells to the hypoxic environment. Further studies with larger series are required to confirm these initial results.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Fatty Acid Synthase, Type I / analysis*
  • Female
  • Gingival Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Gingivitis, Necrotizing Ulcerative / diagnosis
  • Glucose Transporter Type 1 / analysis*
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / analysis*
  • Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell / diagnosis*
  • Maxillary Sinus Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Orbital Neoplasms / diagnosis*

Substances

  • CD44 protein, human
  • Glucose Transporter Type 1
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • SLC2A1 protein, human
  • FASN protein, human
  • Fatty Acid Synthase, Type I