In situ detection of hTERT variants in anaplastic large cell lymphoma

Abstract

The expression of hTERT and its isoforms is difficult to assess in lymphoma tissues with the commonly used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods, because non-neoplastic lymphocytes expressing hTERT are always present in the lymphomatous infiltrates. The present study aimed to investigate hTERT mRNA variants in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) (n = 38) with in situ hybridization (ISH), along with the immunodetection of hTERT protein. Probes for the identification of mRNAs containing (Bplus) and lacking (Bdel) exons 7 and 8 of the hTERT mRNA were used. Normal lymphocyte populations equally expressed both Bplus and Bdel mRNAs. Although all ALCL examined were found positive for hTERT expression with RT-PCR, hTERT mRNAs were identified in 68% of these tumors with ISH, with a higher incidence in the group bearing ALK translocations (10 out of 11; 90.9%) compared to the ALK negative group (17 out of 27; 59.3%) (PPearson's = 0.002). The same results were obtained with immunohistochemistry for hTERT. In approximately 50% of cases, only Bplus positive cells were identified, again with a higher incidence in the ALK positive compared to the ALK negative group (PPearson's = 0.016). In conclusion, ISH for hTERT mRNAs appears to be a valuable tool for the investigation of hTERT expression in lymphomas. Aberrations in hTERT variant profiles and a decline in the expression of the B deleted isoform may be associated with the pathogenesis of ALCL, especially with respect to ALK positive tumors.