Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma, lupus erythematosus profundus, and overlapping cases: molecular characterization through the study of 208 genes

Abstract

Subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) is a rare cytotoxic cutaneous lymphoma. Differential diagnosis with lupus erythematosus panniculitis (LEP) can be challenging and overlapping cases have been described. In this study, we investigate whether gene expression profiling may or not identify markers that can be used to improve our understanding of the disease and to make a precise differential diagnosis. SPTCL, LEP, and overlapping cases were analyzed using a customized NanoString platform including 208 genes related to T-cell differentiation, stromal signatures, oncogenes, and tumor suppressor genes. Gene expression unsupervised analysis of the samples differentiated SPTCL from LEP samples. Most overlapping cases were clustered with LEP cases. Differentially expressed genes were observed when comparing SPTCL with LEP cases; and overlapping with LEP cases. Gene set enrichment analysis recognized gene sets defining each group. In conclusion, SPTCL and LEP have distinctive molecular profiles and the molecular background of overlapping cases more closely resembles LEP.

Keywords:

• Cutaneous lymphomas
• T-cell lymphoma
• subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma
• lupus erythematosus
• lupus erythematosus panniculitis
• gene expression profiling

Disclosure statement

Miguel Ángel Piris declares the following conflicts of interest: Millennium/Takeda: Advisory Board, Lecture Fees, Research Funding; Celgene: Advisory Board; Gilead: Advisory Board; Research funding; Jansen: Advisory Board; Lecture Fees; Nanostring: Advisory Board; Kyowa Kirin: Advisory Board; Kura: Research Funding. None of the other authors reports any conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a grant to SMRP from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, from the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain, PI17/2172. Fondos FEDER.