Chromosomal abnormalities in patients with non-cutaneous T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

In contrast to non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) with a B-cell phenotype, almost no data have been reported dealing with correlations between chromosomal abnormalities and characteristics of the disease in patients with T-cell NHL. In a retrospective analysis we studied all patients with a non-cutaneous T-cell NHL and chromosomal abnormalities that were evaluated at our institution; 20 patients could be identified. Numerical abnormalities involving chromosomes 3, 4, 5, 22 and X were observed most frequently. Structural abnormalities involved mainly the breakpoints 1q22-25, 6q23 and 11q13. There appeared to be an association between +7 breakpoints 2p23-24, 4p14-15, 8q21 and the presence of extranodal disease. All patients with +7 had a diffuse mixed histology. Patients with +2, +3, +11, +17, +18, +20 or breakpoint 1q22-25 had an immunoblastic lymphoma and patients with breakpoints 9q32-34 or 14q12 had a lymphoblastic lymphoma. No correlations were observed between chromosomal abnormalities and response to therapy, survival or phenotypic markers. Abnormalities involving the chromosomes containing the T-cell receptor genes and T-cell markers were infrequent. Several breakpoints were identified that correlate with already described oncogenes.