Blastoid and common variants of mantle cell lymphoma exhibit distinct immunophenotypic and interphase FISH features.

Aims: The recognition of blastoid variant (BV) of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is based on morphological criteria. Our aim was to analyse 18 MCL cases including four BV-MCL for their clinicopathological features, proliferation index, cyclin D1 and CDK4 expression and interphase fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) pattern.

Methods And Results: BV-MCL versus common MCL was characterized by a shorter overall duration of response after first-line therapy (11 months versus 28 months) and shorter overall survival (20 months versus 42 months).