Novel Biomarker Identifies Deadly Lymphoma

A novel diagnostic test accurately identifies patients who have a new type of deadly intestinal lymphoma that is particularly common in Asia.

The test will have an immediate impact on patient care, with doctors now able to diagnose patients accurately and tailor more effective treatment strategies to improve prognosis.

Clinical scientists at Singapore General Hospital (Singapore) studied 60 patients with suspected epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (EATL Type II) from nine different centers from 1999 to 2012. The median age at presentation was 58 years (range: 23 to 83 years) with male predominance (male: female ratio 2.6:1). The disease, almost unheard of before 2008, has been classified as an alternative type of enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL Type I), a disease common in Caucasians and associated with coeliac disease.

Immunohistochemical analysis of paraffin-embedded tumor sections was performed with a variety of antibodies using the BONDMAX automated staining machine (Leica Microsystems; Wetzlar, Germany). Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed using the C-MYC break-apart and chromosome 8 centromeric probes (Abbott Laboratories; Abbott Park, IL, USA) and FISH ancillary kit (DAKO A/S; Glostrup, Denmark).

The team has identified a novel biomarker, known as megakaryocyte-associated tyrosine kinase (MATK), and developed a diagnostic test that enables clinicians to diagnose accurately patients suffering from this type of lymphoma. Requests for this test have come in from around the world, including China and the USA. The disease was characterized by extensive nuclear expression of MATK in 87% and in 88% there was usually a CD8+ CD56+ cytotoxic phenotype, there was frequent aberrant expression of CD20 in 24%.

Lim Soon Thye, MD, a consultant oncologist and senior author, said, “Our investigation has an immediate impact on the care we can provide to patients with this rare but very aggressive intestinal lymphoma. With an accurate diagnosis, we can treat our patients better and improve overall survival." The study was published on March 12, 2013, in the journal Leukemia.

Related Links:
Singapore General Hospital
Leica Microsystems
Abbott Laboratories