Differential expression of NF-κB pathway genes among peripheral T-cell lymphomas

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) is one important pathway in T-cell proliferation and survival. In a previously reported microarrray study, we found NF-kappa B pathway genes differentially expressed between peripheral (PTCL) and lymphoblastic lymphomas. Here, we investigated the expression of NF-kappa B pathway genes using cDNA microarrays in a group of 62 PTCL and in reactive lymph nodes. We found two different subgroups of PTCL based on the expression of NF-kappa B pathway genes. One-third of PTCL showed clearly reduced expression of NF-kappa B genes, while the other group was characterized by high expression of these genes. This distinction was found among all T-cell lymphoma categories analyzed (PTCL unspecified, angioimmunoblastic, cutaneous and natural killer/T lymphomas) with the exception of anaplastic lymphomas (ALCL), which were characterized by reduced NF-kappa B expression in anaplastic cells. Quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis of NF-kappa B-p65 protein confirmed these differences among PTCL subgroups. Importantly, we found that differentiation between NF-kappa B-positive and -negative PTCL could be of clinical interest. The expression profile associated to reduced expression of NF-kappa B genes was significantly associated with shorter survival of patients and seems to be an independent prognostic factor in a multivariate analysis.