Heterogeneity or change in cell of origin in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas determined using hans algorithm

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the heterogeneity or change in cell of origin (COO) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCLs) using the Hans algorithm including 156 patients with multiple DLBCL specimens. COO was detected via immunohistochemical staining for CD10, BCL6, and MUM1. The COO of the main tumor at initial diagnosis was germinal center B-cell (GCB) and non-GCB type in 50 (32%) and 106 (68%) patients, respectively. It did not change in 126 patients (81%). However, it changed in 30 patients (19%), from GCB to non-GCB in 12 patients and vice versa in 18 patients. The COO was heterogeneous or changed in 14% of simultaneous samples at other sites during the initial diagnosis, in 7% of primary refractory sites, and in 20% of samples obtained in the relapse phase other than the primary site. Changes in CD10, BCL6, and MUM1 expression were observed in 15%, 23%, and 24% samples, respectively. A low incidence of change in COO was observed in DLBCL with CD10⁺/BCL6⁺/MUM1^- (4%), CD10^-/BCL6^-/MUM1⁺ (3%), and CD10^-/BCL6^-/MUM1^- (0%) patterns, whereas DLBCL with other patterns showed COO changes at rates of 20–37%. In conclusion, COO was heterogeneous or changed in 19% of DLBCL cases. The COO should be re-examined in other biopsy samples to determine the optimal treatment.