109 Mutations in the T-cell receptor antigen-binding region of malignant cells in mycosis fungoides coincide with clinical and histological progression

Abstract

Chronic T-cell antigen stimulation has long been suggested to contribute to carcinogenesis in mycosis fungoides (MF), but evidence of this phenomenon is lacking at the genetic level. Furthermore, mutations that alter malignant T-cells’ antigen specificities have not been previously described in MF. Here, we report evidence from two patients whereby the presence of single base substitutions (SBS) in the antigen-binding regions of the malignant clones’ T-cell receptors (TCR) coincide with changes in clinical behavior.