OBJECTIVETo explore the vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) expression and its clinical significance in malignant lymphoma.

METHODSLymphoma cells were isolated by laser microdissection. VEGF-C expression in lymphoma tissue and microdissected lymphoma cells was measured by realtime quantitative PCR. Meanwhile, vessel ultrastructure was identified by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSComparing with that in 8 patients with reactive lymphocyte hyperplasia, VEGF-C was overexpressed in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, both in lymphoma tissue (n = 18, P = 0.0020) and in microdissected lymphoma cells (n = 10, P < 0.0001). Increased VEGF-C level was associated with bone marrow infiltration (P = 0.0039), skin involvement (P = 0.0046) and high-risk international prognostic index (P = 0.0302). In VEGF-C overexpressed cases, ultrastructural study showed dystrophic vessels, with swelling endothelial cells and absence of pericytes.

CONCLUSIONThe value of VEGF-C expression might be a biomarker of disease progression in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C ; metabolism

The study was aimed to investigate the BCL-XL expression and mutation, and its clinical significance in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Lymphoma cells were selectively isolated by laser microdissection. BCL-XL expression from lymphoma tissue and microdissected lymphoma cells was measured by using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. BCL-XL mutation was analyzed by using direct sequencing of PCR products. The results showed that compared to 15 patients with reactive hyperplasia, BCL-XL was overexpressed in follicular lymphoma (n = 30), both in lymphoma tissue (P = 0.0064) and in microdissected lymphoma cells (P < 0.0001). No significant rise of BCL-XL expression was observed in patients with T-cell lymphoma (n = 24) and diffuse large B cell lymphoma (n = 24). In follicular lymphoma, high BCL-XL level was associated with multiple extranodal involvement (P = 0.0004), elevated lactate dehydrogenase level (P = 0.0019), high-risk international prognostic index (P = 0.0013) and a short overall survival time (P = 0.0451). Mutation analysis revealed one synonymous mutation (Codon 109 ACA-->ACC) in one case of follicular lymphoma patient. It is concluded that BCL-XL expression is closely correlated with progress of follicular lymphoma and prognosis of patients with follicular lymphoma. The value of BCL-XL expression as a prognostic marker in follicular lymphoma should be considered.
Base Sequence ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Follicular ; genetics ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; genetics ; pathology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Point Mutation ; bcl-X Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics