Diagnosis and prognosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (B-CLL/SLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Background: B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia/ small lymphocytic lymphoma (B-CLL/SLL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) show many overlapping morphologic and immunophenotyping features, however they have great difference in therapeutic regimens and prognosis.

The Aim Of The Study: Is to determine the diagnostic and prognostic role of clinico-pathologic variables, CD23 and Cyclin D1 oncoprotiens in B-SLL/CLL and MCL.

Patients And Methods: This study included 25 BCLL/ SLL cases and 25 MCL cases. All cases were carefully examined and stained using CD23 and Cyclin D1 immunostaining.

Results: There was significant difference between BCLL/ SLL and MCL regarding several items including pattern of growth, where interfollicular pattern was restricted to B-SLL/CLL while nodular and mantle zone pattern were confined to MCL; pseudo-follicles were only present in B-CLL/SLL. Transformed cells, plasmacytoid cells, peripheral blood lymphocytosis, significant longer survival and good prognosis were statistically more prominent in favor of B-CLL/SLL. On the other hand, cell cleavage, epithelioid histiocytes, plasma cells, naked nuclei, hyalinized venules, deposited hyaline material in background and reticular fibers in addition to higher mitotic index per 20 HPF were more significantly identified in favor of MCL. CD23 was expressed as membranous pattern in 16/25 (64%) of B-CLL/SLL cases and 1/25 (4%) of MCL cases. On the other hand, Cyclin D1 was expressed as nuclear staining in 18/25 (72%) of MCL cases and only 1/25 (4%) of B-CLL/SLL cases. Regarding B-CLL/SLL, age >60 years and mitosis >or=10/20 HPF were independent prognostic factors of shorter survival by multivariate analysis. In MCL, Cyclin D1 overexpression and splenomegaly were independent prognostic factors of survival by multivariate analysis.

Conclusion: Cyclin D1 is not only implicated in tumor genesis of MCL, but also in progression and extension of the disease when expressed in high levels (50% cut off value) and it seems to have prognostic impact in MCL. This can be used as a basis for future therapeutic strategies targeting cell cycle regulators. This study could support the concept that Cyclin D1 and CD23 immunostaining may be reliable diagnostic tools for discrimination between B-CLL/SLL and MCL.