The Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin disease are clonal.

TitleThe Reed-Sternberg cells of Hodgkin disease are clonal.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1994
AuthorsInghirami G, Macri L, Rosati S, Zhu BY, Yee HT, Knowles DM
JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Volume91
Issue21
Pagination9842-6
Date Published1994 Oct 11
ISSN0027-8424
KeywordsBase Sequence, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9, DNA Primers, DNA Probes, DNA, Neoplasm, DNA, Satellite, Female, Genetic Variation, Hodgkin Disease, Humans, In Situ Hybridization, Male, Molecular Sequence Data, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Reed-Sternberg Cells, Tumor Cells, Cultured, X Chromosome
Abstract

Relatively little progress has been made in understanding the nature of the Reed-Sternberg (RS) cell and its morphologic variants in Hodgkin disease (HD). This is primarily due to the fact that RS cells represent a minute subpopulation within HD lesions. To investigate the clonal origin of RS cells and variants, we studied 27 HD lesions obtained from 11 patients. Using an image analyzer (CAS 200) we were able to demonstrate that CD30-positive RS cells are clonal elements with unique and individualized DNA profiles and that the DNA content of any given patient RS cell population is constant over time and in different pathologic sites. Using 1, 9, 11, and X alpha satellite chromosome probes and interphase cytogenetics, we also demonstrated that RS cells obtained from different tissue samples of the same patient have a unique and often abnormal chromosomal pattern. To definitively prove the hypothesis that CD30-positive RS cells are clonal elements, we investigated the presence of point mutations within p53 gene exons 5 through 9 and found that only a single patient possessed a nonsense p53 somatic point mutation (Arg to His). This same mutation could be identified in all of his available biopsies. Altogether, these findings demonstrate that RS cells and variants in HD are clonal and represent the neoplastic elements of this entity.

DOI10.1073/pnas.91.21.9842
Alternate JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
PubMed ID7937902
PubMed Central IDPMC44913
Grant ListCA42836 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
CA64033 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
EY06337 / EY / NEI NIH HHS / United States
Related Faculty: 
Giorgio Inghirami, M.D.

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