Mutational Profile and Pathological Features of a Case of Interleukin-10 and RGS1-Positive Spindle Cell Variant Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with spindle cell morphology is a rare variant. We present the case of a 74-year-old male who initially presented with a right supraclavicular (lymph) node enlargement. Histological analysis showed a proliferation of spindle-shaped cells with narrow cytoplasms. An immunohistochemical panel was used to exclude other tumors, such as melanoma, carcinoma, and sarcoma. The lymphoma was characterized by a cell-of-origin subtype of germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) based on Hans' classifier (CD10-negative, BCL6-positive, and MUM1-negative); EBER negativity, and the absence of BCL2, BCL6, and MYC rearrangements. Mutational profiling using a custom panel of 168 genes associated with aggressive B-cell lymphomas confirmed mutations in ACTB, ARID1B, DUSP2, DTX1, HLA-B, PTEN, and TNFRSF14. Based on the LymphGen 1.0 classification tool, this case had an ST2 subtype prediction. The immune microenvironment was characterized by moderate infiltration of M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TMAs) with positivity of CD163, CSF1R, CD85A (LILRB3), and PD-L1; moderate PD-1 positive T cells, and low FOXP3 regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs). Immunohistochemical expression of PTX3 and TNFRSF14 was absent. Interestingly, the lymphoma cells were positive for HLA-DP-DR, IL-10, and RGS1, which are markers associated with poor prognosis in DLBCL. The patient was treated with R-CHOP therapy, and achieved a metabolically complete response.

Automated summary

We report a rare variant of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with spindle cell morphology in a 74-year-old male patient who presented with right supraclavicular (lymph) node enlargement. The lymphoma was characterized by a cell-of-origin subtype of germinal center B-cell-like (GCB), and mutational profiling confirmed mutations in multiple genes associated with aggressive B-cell lymphomas. The immune microenvironment showed infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages and expression of certain markers associated with poor prognosis. The patient achieved a complete response with R-CHOP therapy.