Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and GIST: molecular pathways and clinical expressions

Abstract

We report the case of a 64-year-old woman with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor and a diffuse large cell lymphoma. For this case, we conducted a literature review in an attempt to correlate these two neoplasms on a molecular basis. Diffuse large cell lymphoma is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The etiologic factor of these lymphomas is considered to be the mutations or allelic losses of the TP53 tumor suppressor gene and the overexpression of the bcl-2 oncogene. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are mesenchymal tumors, which are typically defined by the expression of c-KIT (CD117) and CD34 genes in the tumor cells. Although there are references to dispersants in the literature about patients with both non-Hodgkin lymphoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors, there is no common molecular pathway between these two diseases. In conclusion, there is no indication that these two neoplasms are relevant on a molecular basis.

Keywords:

• hematological malignacies
• mesenchymal cells
• gastrointestinal cancer

Authors’ contributions

M Karanikas, N Machairiotis, P Zarogoulidis, and A Stylianaki wrote the manuscript. N Lyratzopoulos, A Mitrakas, and A Polychronidis performed the surgery. N Courcoutsakis evaluated the radiographic findings. M Spanoudakis treated the patient while he was a member of the Hematology Department, University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. G Kouklakis, M Karanikas, N Lyratzopoulos, A Mitrakas, and A Polychronidis treated the patient.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.