BCL2 translocation in high grade B cell lymphoma (NOS, DH/TH) is associated with reduced progression free survival

Abstract

High Grade B Cell Lymphoma, NOS, and High Grade B Cell Lymphoma with Dual Hit or Triple Hit have been recently recategorized in the 2016 revision of the WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms. In this study we have characterized the genetic, histopathological, and clinical features of a series of this type of lymphoid neoplasia (17 HGBCL NOS and 53 HGBCL DH/TH).

HGBCL NOS showed better response to first line treatment than HGBCL with DH/TH but no significant differences in PFS or OS were found between the two categories. Survival analysis in the whole cohort of cases found that only the presence of BCL2 translocation was significantly associated with PFS. Other clinical features such as IPI, LDH or stage were equivalent in both categories. Furthermore, both high grade and DLBCL morphological patterns showed equivalent PFS and OS in this set of High grade BCL NOS/DH/TH.

Key points

• BCL2 translocation in High Grade B Cell Lymphoma NOS and High Grade B Cell Lymphoma with DH/TH is associated with reduced progression free survival.

• Both high grade and DLBCL morphological patterns showed equivalent outcome regarding PFS and OS in HGBCL.

Keywords:

• Lymphoma and Hodgkin disease
• molecular genetics
• prognostication

Acknowledgements

The authors want to acknowledge the Valdecilla Tumor Biobank Unit (Tissue Node, PT13/0010/0024) for their skillful handling and processing of tissue samples and specially all the clinical colleagues and pathologists who provided with clinical data and samples for this research study.

Author contributions

SGdV performed research, analyzed data, wrote the paper, and approved the paper, MB, JMP, JGC, JTFN, GT, SAA, AM, OB, PA, JC, AG-N, RA, MA, AL provided clinical data and tissue samples, performed research and approved the paper. SMM designed research, performed research, analyzed data, wrote the paper, and approved the paper.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no potential conflict of interest to disclose related to the content of this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by grants from MINECO [PI19/00041, PI16/1397, SMM, Principal Investigator] and GILEAD19/22 (SMM, Principal Investigator).