Lack of expression of TUBB3 characterizes both BCL2-positive and BCL2-negative follicular lymphoma

Mod Pathol. 2014 Jun;27(6):808-13. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.2013.182. Epub 2013 Nov 15.

Abstract

Follicular lymphoma is characterized by aberrant BCL2 expression, a feature that is exploited for diagnostic purposes. However, a certain percentage of follicular lymphomas might be BCL2-negative by immunohistochemistry, increasing the difficulties in differentiating them from follicular hyperplasia. The expression of TUBB3 has been recently reported as negative in a small series of follicular lymphomas. We have therefore tested a larger series, including 61 BCL2-positive and 25 BCL2-negative cases, and compared them with 61 reactive lymphoid tissues. First, a subjective score of TUBB3 staining was applied, showing that it was consistently positive in reactive germinal centers, while most follicular lymphomas were negative; in fact, only 10/61 (16%) BCL2-positive and 1/25 (4%) BCL2-negative cases showed a positive staining for TUBB3, while 58/61 (95%) of tissues with follicular hyperplasia were positive. The application of a standardized scoring system to a large number of follicles, based on virtual slides, demonstrated that reactive lymphoid tissues had a significantly higher number of TUBB3-positive follicles both compared with BCL2-positive cases and to BCL2-negative cases. Our data support the use of TUBB3 staining in differentiating follicular lymphoma, including BCL2-negative cases, from follicular hyperplasia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Germinal Center / pathology
  • Humans
  • Hyperplasia / diagnosis
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / diagnosis*
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / biosynthesis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tubulin / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2
  • TUBB3 protein, human
  • Tubulin