ERG Expression is Helpful in Differentiating T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma from Thymoma

Abstract

ETS-related gene (ERG) is the member of ETS-family of transcription factors and is commonly expressed in Ewing sarcoma. Recently, we found that ERG can also be expressed in lymphoblastic lymphoma. The aim of this article is to explore the expression patterns of ERG in T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, and to evaluate its diagnostic value for differentiating T-lymphoblastic lymphoma and nonneoplastic T-precursor cells in thymoma via immunohistochemistry. In this study, we explored the expression pattern of ERG in T-lymphoblastic lymphoma and thymoma specimens via immunohistochemistry. Sixteen T-lymphoblastic lymphoma and 18 thymoma specimens were evaluated for the expression of ERG. Our findings showed that ERG was expressed in 10 of the 16 (63%) T-lymphoblastic lymphoma specimens, and in only 1 of the 18 (6%) thymoma specimens. The positive and negative predictive value of ERG in T-lymphoblastic lymphoma was 91% and 74%, respectively. ERG is a helpful marker for the diagnosis of T-lymphoblastic lymphoma and is a promising new method to differentiate T-lymphoblastic lymphoma and the nonneoplastic T-precursor cells in thymoma.