Genetic abnormalities assist in pathological diagnosis and EBV-positive cell density impact survival in Chinese angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma patients.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the application of genetic abnormalities in the diagnosis of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) and the reliable pathological prognostic factors.

METHODS: This study included 53 AITL cases, which were reviewed for morphological patterns, immunophenotypes, presence of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS)-like cells, and co-occurrence of B cell proliferation. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive cells in tissues were counted, and cases were classified into "EBV encoded RNA (EBER) high-density" group if >50/HPF. Targeted exome sequencing was performed.

RESULTS: Mutation data can assist AITL diagnosis: 1) with considerable HRS-like cells (20 cases): RHOA mutated in 14 cases ( IDH2 co-mutated in 3 cases, 4 cases with rare RHOA mutation), TET2 was mutated in 5 cases (1 case co-mutated with DNMT3A ), and DNMT3A mutated in 1 case; 2) accompanied with B cell lymphoma (7 cases): RHOA mutated in 4 cases (1 case had IDH2 mutation), TET2 mutated in 2 cases and DNMT3A mutated in 1 case; 3) mimic peripheral T cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (5 cases): RHOA mutated in 2 cases ( IDH2 co-mutated in 1 case), TET2 mutated in 3 cases, and DNMT3A mutated in 1 case; 4) pattern 1 (1 case), RHOA and TET2 co-mutated. Besides RHOA G17V (30/35), rare variant included RHOA K18N , RHOA R68H , RHOA C83Y , RHOA D120G and RHOA G17del , IDH2 R172 co-mutated with IDH2 M397V in one case. There were recurrent mutations of FAT3 , PCLO and PIEZO1 and genes of epigenetic remodeling, T-cell activation, APC and PI3K/AKT pathway. EBER high-density independently indicated adverse overall survival and progression-free survival (P=0.046 and P=0.008, Kaplan-Meier/log-rank).

CONCLUSIONS: Over half AITL cases might be confused in diagnosis for certain conditions without mutation data. Targeted exome sequencing with a comprehensive panel is crucial to detect both hot-spot and rare mutation variants for RHOA and IDH2 and other recurrent mutated genes in addition to TET2 and DNMT3A . EBER high-density independently indicated adverse survival.