9p24.1 Genetic Alteration and PD-L1 Expression Are Characteristic of De Novo and Methotrexate-associated Epstein-Barr Virus-positive Hodgkin Lymphoma, But Not Methotrexate-associated Hodgkin-like Lesions

Although the alteration of the 9p24.1 chromosome locus and PD-L1 overexpression is found in nodular sclerosis classic Hodgkin lymphoma, whether these aberrations occur in CHL and Hodgkin-like lesion (HLL) of methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (MTX-CHL and MTX-HLL) is unknown. We compared the clinicopathologic features, the genomic status of the 9p24.1 locus and PD-L1 expression in a series of 34 patients including 17 with Epstein-Barr virus-positive de novo CHL, 7 with MTX-CHL, 10 with MTX-HLL using an immunofluorescence in situ hybridization method and immunohistochemistry. The proportions of cells with 9p24.1 genetic alteration in CD30-positive Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells of de novo CHL, MTX-CHL and MTX-HLL were 55%, 68%, and 24%, respectively. The positive rates of PD-L1 measured by immunohistochemical H-scores of de novo CHL, MTX-CHL and MTX-HLL were 142 +/- 38, 157 +/- 75, and 70 +/- 42, respectively. Alteration of the 9p24.1 gene and expression of PD-L1 protein were correlated with all 3 diseases (correlation coefficient, 0.731). Both alteration of the 9p24.1 gene and overexpression of PD-L1 protein were observed in Epstein-Barr virus-positive de novo CHL and MTX-CHL but not in MTX-HLL. In conclusion, MTX-CHL has similar pathogenesis-like de novo CHL, but MTX-HLL seems to be a different disease from de novo CHL and MTX-CHL.

Automated summary

Although alterations in 9p24.1 chromosome locus and PD-L1 overexpression have been identified in nodular sclerosis classic Hodgkin lymphoma, it is unclear whether these aberrations occur in CHL and Hodgkin-like lesion (HLL) of methotrexate-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (MTX-CHL and MTX-HLL). This study compared clinicopathological features, genomic status of the 9p24.1 locus, and PD-L1 expression in different types of CHL using immunofluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that MTX-CHL has a similar pathogenesis to de novo CHL, while MTX-HLL appears to be a different disease.