Introduction
Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) is a high-grade B-cell neoplasm occurring most commonly in children living in endemic and hyper endemic areas for malaria infection, and with lesser frequency in all other parts of the world.2, 1 The ability of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) to transform lymphocytes by inducing the translocations typically found in BL appears to be augmented by malarial parasitaemia. These translocations involve the c-Myc oncogene on chromosome 8 and one of the immunoglobulin heavy or light chain loci on chromosomes 2, 14 and 22. This aggressive neoplasm is classified as a Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) and has the quickest doubling time among human tumors.3 BL is subdivided into three different categories based on epidemiological observations: endemic BL (eBL), sporadic (sBL), and HIV-associated BL. The endemic form is characterized by a jaw mass with or without abdominal disease. Bone marrow involvement is rare (7%) but central nervous system involvement is more common (19%). The sporadic form found throughout the western world typically presents as an abdominal mass (88%). Bone marrow involvement is more common than in the endemic form (21%) while jaw masses (14%) and central nervous system involvement (11%) are less common. In India, most cases fall into the sporadic group. About 95% of eBL cases are associated with Epstein - Barr virus (EBV) and are commonly found in Equatorial Africa and Papua New Guinea where malarial diseases are highly prevalent. In contrast, only 5–15% of sBL and 40% of HIV-associated BLare EBV positive.6, 5, 4 EBV which is responsible for BL has a double stranded DNA and is enclosed in icosahedral-shaped capsid. It belongs to herpes family. Universally more than 90% of all people become infected with EBV at some point during their lifetime but most of the infected individuals remain healthy. EBV is capable of leading to pathologic conditions, being linked to a variety of disorders and malignancies. Immunodeficiency’s resulting from certain genetic disorders, organ transplantation, or infectious diseases (e.g., AIDS, malaria) can lead to reactivation and outgrowth of these EBV-infected B cells.7 EBV infection can also lead to the generation of a number of proteins (e.g., EBNA1, cmyc ) which are involved in decreasing immune recognition of malignant B cells.
Aim of the Study
To analyze the clinico-pathological, i mmuno-phenotypic, cytogenetic and molecular pathology of Burkitt’s lymphoma/leukemia. This study was undertaken as there are very few case series from the Indian sub-continent.
Materials and Methods
All cases diagnosed as Burkitt’s lymphoma /leukemia (BL) during the study period 2008 to 2016 were included. Data was collected from patient’s records, and all peripheral blood, bone marrow smears and histopathology slides were reviewed. Treatment regimens and follow-up details were obtained from Medical Oncology records. Peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate we re stained with Giemsa and Oil Red-O stain. Histological sections were stained using Hematoxylin – Eosin stain. Immunohistochemical studies were performed on formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections of trephine biopsy, lymph node biopsy or extra nodal biopsy specimens (CD3, CD20, Tdt, Ki67). Immunophenotypingon peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirate were done using standard 4-color flow cytometry analysis. FISH assay was performed on few of the bone marrow aspirate samples.
Results During this study period, 37 cases were diagnosed as Burkitt lymphoma /leukemia. There were 25 male and 12 female (M: F: 2.2:1), wit h a mean age of 55 years (ranging between 4 and 69). The clinical presentation of Burkitt leukemia /lymphoma differed, depending on the site of involvement. Twenty one patients had B type symptoms at presentation, 8 patients presented with pancytopenia and bone marrow revealed the diagnosis. Hepatosplenomegaly was seen in 10 patients, lymphadenopathy in 11 cases. Commonest site of lymphadenopathy being cervical followed by mesenteric and abdominal lymphadenopathy. LDH was raised in 17 cases, ranging from 667 to 5200 IU/l. No patient was immunocompromised or HIV positive in this study.
Peripheral blood and marrow pathology findings
Peripheral blood and bone marrow samples were evaluated in 25 patients; among which 21 cases had morphological features most consistent with Burkitt leukemia. Tumour cells ranged from 49 to 96% in marrow aspirates or imprints smears. Trephine biopsy sections showed monomorphous population of cells present in diffuse or interstitial infiltrate pattern. The bone marrow aspirate smears showed intermediate-sized lymphoid cells with basophilic cytoplasm, round to slightly oval nuclei, and prominent, sharply defined, clear vacuoles of varying size. Punched out vacuoles were found overlying the nucleus as well as in the cytoplasm (Figure 3, Figure 2, Figure 1). Auerrods (or) cytoplasm granules were not seen. There were 4 cases showing marrow relapse in treated cases of Burkitt leukemia/lymphoma (BL) diagnosed previously. Cytochemistry was done using Sudan Black B (SBB) and Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) stains on all 25 marrow samples, SBB was negative in all cases, PAS block positivity seen in 7 cases. Oil red O stain for lipid vacuoles was positive in 19 cases, 3 cases were negative and noncontributory in 3 cases.
Histopathological findings
Histopathology specimens from nodal and extra nodal masses were evaluated in 12 patients. Among 12 patients, 6 cases were lymph node masses, 3 cases from head and neck area swelling and 3 cases of abdominal mesenteric lymph node. Extra nodal masses not seen in our study. These three were diagnosed as high grade lymphoma on guided FNAC smears and later excised mass histopathology and IHC con firmed the diagnosis. Histological section from lymph node showed the typical “Starry-sky appearance “of malignant lymphoid cells admixed with tingible body macrophages (4).
Flowcytometry and Immunohistochemistry
Flowcytometric immunophyenotype analysis was performed in 6 cases on peripheral blood and bone marrow blood samples. In these six patients the cells were positive for CD10, CD19, and CD20, and negative for myeloid and T-cell markers. Immunophenotyping on peripheral blood was positive for CD10, CD45, CD19, CD20, CD23, CD79b, surface IgM/D light chain and negative for CD5. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on 12 biopsy specimens and 3 trephine biopsy blocks.Neoplastic cells showing high grade B-cell lymphoma and were positive for CD20, CD10, and BCL-2, and negative for CD5. Ki-67 labeling in Burkitt leukemia cases ranged from 90 to 95% (Figure 5 a,b,c & d).
Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH)
FISH analysis, performed on 4 bone marrow aspirate samples and 1 histopathology block, showed both c-MYC rearrangement indirectly indicating translocation of t (8; 14) or other patterning with other chromosomal abnormality (Figure 6).
Figure 2
Bone marrow picture cells with deep basophilic cytoplasm and punched outvacuoles (Giemsa X40)
Figure 4
High power showing monotonous population of intermediate-sized lymphoidcells with scant cytoplasm admixed with tingible-body macrophages (H&E X 400)
Discussion
Burkitt lymphoma was first described by Dennis Burkitt in Uganda in 1958 as a ‘sarcoma involving the jaw in African children.’8 He observed its dramatic response to chemotherapy, demonstrating a number of long-term remissions with one or two doses of cyclophosphamide.9 Further evaluation showed that this endemic variant was clinically related, and histological identical, to the abdominal form that constitutes the sporadic variant. Initially treatment consisted of surgical cytoreduction, where possible followed by chemotherapy.7, 10
The subsequent evolution of Burkitt lymphoma treatment has seen the use of increasingly intensive chemotherapy and a reduction in the role of surgery. Early work demonstrated increased survival where complete resection could be achieved and advocated an aggressive surgical approach to Burkitt lymphoma.12, 11 As the efficacy of chemotherapy regimens improved, it became obvious that aggressive attempts at surgical cyto reduction delayed the administration of chemotherapy, and was associated with an increase in complications requiring surgical intervention. 14, 13 Debulking surgery to reduce tumor bulk no longer appears to be necessary. Surgery is now only required for diagnostic purposes, or in the event of surgical complications of the lymphoma such as intestinal obstruction.
While regimens such as COMP15, on which P1 was based, proved very effective for patients with localized disease, cure for those with dissemination to the bone marrow or central nervous system remained elusive. Successive studies by groups in France and the US showed that high cure rates could be obtained with more intensive chemotherapy.18, 17, 16 The French reported a 5-year overall survival of 100% for group A, 94% for group B and 85% for group C. 19
This study included 25 patients of Burkitt leukemia diagnosed on bone marrow studies and 12 cases diagnosed on tissue biopsies. These fitted the profile of the sporadic type of Burkitt lymphoma. None of the cases were immunocompromised. Among 25 bone marrow patients, 18 cases expired or did not turn up for follow-up and 7 cases were in remission. Out of 12 patients diagnosed on histopathology, the median survival after diagnosis was 5 months. The findings of this study were compared with various studies conducted around the world in terms of age, gender ration, EBV association, chief complaints and involvement of bone marrow. Comparison is tabulated (Table 1)
Table 1
Comparison of various studies
The present study has included both adult and pediatric population. Other studies mainly done on pediatrics population.
Conclusion
Burkitt lymphoma/ leukemia is a unique B- cell neoplasm that has taught us much regarding lymphomagenesis. It is the first human tumor to be causally associated with a virus (EBV). The c-myc of Burkitt lymphoma is the first oncogene to be described in a lymphoma. Among human neoplasm, it has the shortest doubling time. Its unequalled proliferation rate creates special challenges for diagnosis and treatment. In present series, only seven cases are in remission and rests expired or were lost to follow-up.
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