Less than 1% of DLBCL are positive for ALK. They form a heterogeneous group of lymphomas. Most cases are CD20-, CD30- (usually), CD138+, EMA+ (usually), and IgA-restricted (frequently) immunoblastic/plasmablastic non-Hodgkin lymphomas. They occur in both children and adults and appear to have a male predominance. Many cases have poor prognosis. CLTC-ALK fusions seem to characterize the majority of ALK+ DLBCLs, but NPM-ALK occurs in some cases.
References
1 Morris S W. ALK in NHL: To B (cell) or not to B (cell)? Characterization of the entity "ALK+ DLBCL" . Blood, 1 October 2003, Vol. 102, No. 7, pp. 2316-2317
This page last revised 14.10.2006.
©SMUHT/PW Bishop