Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas in adults with aberrant coexpression of CD10, BCL6, and MUM1 are enriched in IRF4 rearrangements

Abstract

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with aberrant co-expression of CD10+BCL6+MUM1+ (DLBCL-AE), classified as germinal center B cell (GCB)-type by the Hans algorithm (HA), were genetically characterized. To capture the complexity of these DLBCL-AE, we used an integrated approach including gene expression profiling (GEP), fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH), targeted gene sequencing, and copy number (CN) arrays. According to GEP, 32/54 (59%) cases were classified as GCB-DLBCL, 16/54 (30%) as activated B-cell (ABC)-DLBCL and 6/54 (11%) as unclassifiable. The discrepancy between HA and GEP was 41%. Three genetic subgroups were identified. Group 1 included 13/50 (26%) cases without translocations and mainly showing and ABC/MCD molecular profile. Group 2 comprised 11/50 (22%) cases with IRF4 alterations (DLBCL-IRF4), frequent mutations in IRF4 (82%) and NF-κB pathway genes (MYD88, CARD11, and CD79B), and losses of 17p13.2. Five cases each were classified as GCB- or ABC-type. Group 3 included 26/50 (52%) cases with one or several translocations in BCL2/BCL6/MYC/IGH and GCB/EZB molecular profile predominated. Two cases in this latter group showed complex BCL2/BCL6/IRF4 translocations. DLBCL-IRF4 in adults showed a similar CN profile and share recurrent CARD11 and CD79B mutations when compared to LBCL-IRF4 in pediatric population. However, adult cases showed higher genetic complexity, higher mutational load with frequent MYD88 and KMT2D mutations, and more often ABC-GEP. IRF4 mutations were identified only in IRF4-rearranged cases indicating its potential utility in the diagnostic setting. In conclusion, DLBCL-AE are genetically heterogeneous and enriched in cases with IRF4 alterations. DLBCL-IRF4 in adults has many similarities to the pediatric counterpart.