Cytogenetic and immunohistochemical analysis of lymphoepithelioid cell lymphoma (Lennert's lymphoma): further substantiation of its T-cell nature.

In 1968 a special variant of Hodgkin's disease, epithelioid cellular lymphogranulomatosis--later on termed lymphoepithelioid cell lymphoma/Lennert's lymphoma--was defined. There are increasing indicators that Lennert's lymphoma is of T-cell origin. Seven cases of Lennert's lymphoma are studied with cytogenetic as well as immunohistochemical techniques. Six of them have cytogenetic abnormal clones always including aberrations of chromosome No. 3 (+3, break in q22, dup q22----q24). In all cases band 3q22 is either broken or duplicated. Immunohistochemically it is clearly demonstrated that the proliferating cells are of T-cell nature (Ki67+, Leu4+, Leu1+). Under consideration in the literature it can be stated in conclusion that (1) lymphoepithelioid cell lymphoma (Lennert's lymphoma) with aberrations has to be designated as malignant lymphoma, (2) immunohistochemical double labeling proved the T-cell nature of this lymphoma, (3) there are remarkable similarities between the chromosomal patterns of lymphoepithelioid cell lymphoma, lymphogranulomatosis X/angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy and probably Hodgkin's disease: many normal mitoses and abnormalities of chromosome No. 3, especially trisomy. It is discussed that abnormalities of chromosome No. 3 involving band q22 are an indicator of a common genetic background of these lymphomas.