Haematologica 2004;89: supplement no. 6 - Supplements ...

VIII Congress of the Italian Society of Experimental Hematology, Pavia, September 14-16, 2004169mated capillary system (AB310). The sequences werecompared with published germ line data to identifyV-D-J rearrangements and VH somatic mutations.The results of the IgH sequence analysis showed thepresence of a common predominant clone (VH3-66/DH3-3/JH6) in SLL areas, in proliferation centersand in R-S-like cells. This rearrangement was thesame found in the whole section of the lymph node,supporting a clonal relationship between CLL/SLL andR-S-like cells. In addiction none of the rearrangementsexamined carried VH somatic mutation supportingthe naïve nature of the lymphomatous components.Therefore, LCM followed by PCR andsequencing techniques, provides an important toolfor the investigation of Ig status and the clonal relationshipin purified cells from lymphoma tissues.PO-176CONVENTIONAL CYTOGENETIC ANALYSIS AND INTERPHASE INSITU HYBRIDIZATION IN 28 CASES OF DLBCLZunino A,* Viaggi S,*° Gentile R,^ Massone S,* VitiR,* Zupo S,* Abbondandolo A,*° Ottaggio L**National Institute for Cancer Research, Genova;°Dibisa, University of Genova; ^S. Martino Hospital,Genoa, ItalyDiffuse large-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a histologicallywell defined subset of non-Hodgkin lymphomaswhich comprises several entities characterized by differentgenetic, immunophenotypic and clinical features.For example, only 45% of patients achieve acomplete remission, while the remaining patientsdead of the disease, despite treatment. Moreover,DLBCL may arise de novo or may be an evolution ofprevious low grade lymphomas. For all these reasonsDLBCLs result an heterogeneous disease and so farvery few genetic and biological markers are availableto predict the behaviour of these lymphomas.Approximately 50% of DLBCL exhibit chromosomaltranslocations involving Ig heavy chain genes, locatedon 14q32 region, and different partners. The mostfrequently involved partner gene is BCL2 gene. Inthese lymphomas also BCL6, located on 3q27 region,is frequently involved in translocations both with Igheavy chain genes and other genes. The primaryobjective of this study is to assess the value of cytogeneticprofile as marker of response to therapy inDLBCL affected patients. The samples (lymph node orsplenic biopsies) from 28 DLBCL patients have beenanalysed at the diagnosis by conventional cytogeneticsand interphase FISH. Probes for FISH analysiswere chosen to detect the most common aberrationsfound in DLBCL: t(3q27); t(14;18)(q32;q21) and aneuploidiesof chromosomes 7; 12; 18; X. When possible,the karyotypes obtained by conventional bandingtechniques were examined. FISH analysis detectedthe 3q27 region translocation in the 25% of theDLBCL examined. The translocation t(14;18) was presentin only 11% of cases. There was a good correlationbetween karyotype, when available, and interphaseFISH results. The results have been comparedto clinical, immunohystochemical and immunophenotypicaldata.PO-177INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF PRIMARY EFFUSION LYMPHOMA(PEL)Conconi A, Spina M, Ascoli V, Guillermo-Lopez A,Cortelazzo S, Re A, Ichinohasama R, Sata T, LuppiM, Vallisa D, Bergonzi C, Provencio M, Rossi D,Levine A, Raphael M, Gloghini A, Gaidano G,Carbone A on behalf of the International ExtranodalLymphoma Study Group (IELSG)PEL is a rare B-cell neoplasm characterized by apreferential involvement of fluid-filled body spaces,consistent infection of the tumor clone by humanherpesvirus type-8 (HHV-8) and a close relationshipwith underlying immunodeficiency status of the host.The International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group(IELSG) coordinated a retrospective survey involving14 international institutions to determine the clinico-pathologicalfeatures and patterns of outcome ofPEL. Fourty-two patients (37 males and 5 females)were registered. Median age at diagnosis was 58years (range 27-102). In 23 (55%) patients an associatedhuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infectionwas reported, in one case the diagnosis of PELwas made after a solid organ transplantation, in twopatients other immunodeficiency conditions werepresent. The HHV-8 infection of the tumor clone wasdemonstrated in 34 out of the 38 tested cases,Epstein-Barr virus infection in 13 of 29 cases. CD4count was lower than 200/µL in 18 of the 25 casesin whom the data was available. An ECOG perfomancestatus score >= 2 was observed in 28 patientsand the presence of B-symptoms in 20 patients.Serum LDH was elevated in 20 of the 38 testedpatients. In 4 patients nodal involvement at diagnosiswas reported, in 4 cases at least one extranodalsite of localization other than serous cavities waspresent. A low/low-intermediate risk score accordingto International Prognostic Index was reported in10 cases, an intermediate-high/high risk score in 28cases. Twenty patients received systemic chemotherapy,in 16 cases an anthracycline-based regimen.Intrapleural cidofovir was administered in 3 patients.Twelve HIV+ patients received highly active retroviraltherapy (HAART), four of them as single therapy.xAmong the 38 patients for whom adequate follow-haematologica vol. 89[suppl. n. 6]:september 2004