B cell lymphoma with IRF4 rearrangement: A clinicopathological study of 13 cases

Pathol Int. 2021 Mar;71(3):183-190. doi: 10.1111/pin.13067. Epub 2021 Jan 27.

Abstract

Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) rearrangement is commonly detected in patients with a range of lymphoproliferative malignancies, including myelomas, large B cell lymphomas and low-grade B cell neoplasms. However, IRF4 rearrangement is generally a relatively rare finding in these latter two cancer types. In the present article, we describe and summarize the clinicopathological and genetic features of 13 cases of B cell lymphoma with IRF4 rearrangement, including 12 cases of large B cell lymphoma and one case of low-grade lymphoma exhibiting such rearrangement. These cases were detected in six females and seven males between 14 and 71 years of age. From a morphological perspective, large B cell lymphoma tumors included in this analysis exhibited large neoplastic cells in diffuse or follicular patterns, while the case of low-grade lymphoma mainly composed of small lymphocytes. All analyzed cases exhibited a split in the IRF4 gene consistent with IRF4 translocation. Three of six analyzed large B cell lymphoma cases harbored IGLL5 mutations. Mutations in SAMHD1 were detected in the low-grade lymphoma with IRF4 rearrangement case. In summary, our results offer further insight into the morphological and molecular heterogeneity of cases of B cell lymphoma exhibiting IRF4 rearrangements.

Keywords: B cell lymphoma; IRF4; rearrangement.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Gene Rearrangement
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Interferon Regulatory Factors / genetics*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse* / genetics
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse* / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • SAM Domain and HD Domain-Containing Protein 1 / genetics
  • Translocation, Genetic

Substances

  • Interferon Regulatory Factors
  • interferon regulatory factor-4
  • SAM Domain and HD Domain-Containing Protein 1