Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma in Taiwan reveals worse progression-free survival for RHOA G17V mutated subtype

Abstract

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) carries genetic mutations of TET2, RHOA, and IDH2, but the prognostic impact of these mutations is not widely investigated. Although one study shows no difference in overall survival between patients with or without RHOA G17V mutation, a poor performance status is associated with RHOA G17V-mutated AITL, which is an independent adverse factor. We retrospectively investigated the prognostic impact of RHOA G17V mutation in AITL patients. A total of 31 cases were enrolled (male-to-female, 2.1; mean age: 62.8 years). RHOA G17V mutation was analyzed by deep sequencing. We found that in contrast to RHOA-wild type, patients with RHOA G17V-mutated AITL more frequently had B symptoms (p = .035), stronger PD1 expression (p = .045), ≥3 TFH markers (p = .011), higher blood vessel density (p<.001), and poorer progression-free survival (p = .046). These results support a role for RHOA genetic testing in AITL patients as ROHA G17V mutation carries a worse prognosis, probably associated with B symptoms and stage IV disease.

Keywords:

• Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL)
• next generation sequencing
• ROHA G17V mutation
• clinical features
• prognosis

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Chin-Cheng, Michael Lee, MD, PhD, and Chun-Jui Wei, MD (Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Shin-Kong Hospital, 95, Wen-Chang Road, Taipei city, Taiwan) for providing the clinical information.

Disclosure statement

The authors reported no potential conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by grants from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan [MOST 106-2320-B-006-037-MY3] to Dr. K.C. Chang.