OBJECTIVETo study the C-myc gene and protein in T lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia (T-LBL/ALL) and its relationship to prognosis.

METHODS60 cases of T-LBL/ALL with follow-up data were studied by using immunohistochemical EnVision method for CD1a, CD3, εCD3, CD7, CD10, CD34, CD43, CD45RO, CD99, TDT, CD20, CD23, MPO, Ki-67 and C-myc. 20 cases of reactive lymph nodes were selected as normal control group of C-myc gene and protein. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) for C-myc gene (located on chromosome8q24) was performed to detect its breakage and gain.

RESULTSAmong the 60 cases of T-LBL/ALL, immunohistochemistry results showed:the percentages of tumor cells expression of CD1a, CD3, εCD3, CD7, CD10, CD34, CD43, CD45RO, CD99 and TDT were 38.3% (23/60), 75.0% (45/60), 45.0% (27/60), 95.0% (57/60), 36.7% (22/60), 23.3% (14/60), 60.0% (36/60), 41.7% (25/60), 96.7% (58/60) and 93.3% (56/60). Separately, while CD20, CD23 and MPO were all negative. A figure of Ki-67 expression ≤ 80% was found in 36 cases and > 80% was found in 24 cases. The positive rate of C-myc protein was 66.7% (40/60) in 60 cases of T-LBL/ALL, was 0% (0/20) in 20 cases of reactivated lymphoid tissue (χ² = 26.67, P < 0.05). C-myc protein expression was positively correlated with the mediatinal width and Ki-67 index (P < 0.05). Fluorescence in-situ hybridization results showed that among the 60 cases of T-LBL/ALL, C-myc gene with breakage of 8q24 was detected in 6 cases (10.0%), and gains in 11 cases (18.3%). 20 cases of reactive lymph nodes were not occurred breakage and gains of C-myc gene. It is not significant between C-myc gene and protein expression (P > 0.05). In addition, in 60 cases of T-LBL/ALL, 12(20.0%) cases of C-myc protein and genetic abnormalities coexist. Log-rank analysis results: The prognosis of C-myc protein positive group was worse than negative group (P < 0.05). The relationship of C-myc gene and prognosis was not significant (P > 0.05). C-myc protein and genetic abnormality coexist is related with worse prognosis (P < 0.05). COX analysis results show that the C-myc protein positive group may be a independent poor prognosis factors (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSC-myc may play an important role on the development of T-LBL/ALL. It may be a independent prognosis factors.

Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of miR-16 and bcl-2 in T lymphoblastic lymphoma/leukemia (T-LBL/ALL) and its relationship to prognosis.

METHODS70 cases of T-LBL/ALL with follow-up data were studied by using immunohistochemical EnVision method for CD1a, CD3, cCD3, CD7, CD10, CD20, CD23, CD34, CD43, CD45RO, CD99, TDT, MPO, bcl-2 and Ki-67. The expression levels of miR-16 were examined by TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Thirty cases of reactive lymph node were selected as control.

RESULTSAmong the 70 cases of T-LBL/ALL, the percentages of tumor cells expression of TDT, CD99, CD3, CD7, CD10, CD34, CD1a, cCD3, bcl-2, CD45RO and CD43 were 94.3% (66/70), 94.3% (66/70), 68.6% (48/70), 92.9% (65/70), 32.9% (23/70), 24.3% (17/70), 40.0% (28/70), 51.4% (36/70), 34.3% (24/70), 37.1% (26/70), and 48.6% (34/70). Separately, while tumor cells expression of MPO, CD20 and CD23 was all negative. A figure of Ki-67 expression > 80% was found in 24 cases and ≤ 80% in 46 cases. The expression of miR-16 was up-regulated in T-LBL/ALL, and it was 5.07 times of the reactive lymph node(P = 0.001). The high expression group of miR-16 was significantly correlated with longer over survival (P = 0.041). The prognosis of negative bcl-2 group was better than bcl-2 positive one(P = 0.904). The relationship of miR-16 and bcl-2 was significant(P = 0.042,χ(2) = 4.147). Survival multivariate COX proportional hazard regression analysis revealed that the low expression of miR-16 might be a independent poor prognosis factor (P = 0.049).

CONCLUSIONSWhile the high expression group of miR-16 has longer OS than that in low expression group. The prognosis of bcl-2 negative was better than bcl-2 positive. miR-16 may be a independent prognosis factor. The relationship of miR-16 and bcl-2 might suggested that gene regulation may be influenced by them.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Infant ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult