Occurrence of the t(2;5)(p23;q35) in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Primary CD30(Ki-1)-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) is considered by some to be a distinct clinicopathologic entity associated with the t(2;5) (p23;q35). However, the specificity of t(2;5) for ALCL has not been carefully studied. Therefore, we performed a detailed analysis of all cases of ALCL with abnormal cytogenetics results in the Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group registry, as well as all other cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with t(2;5) in the registry. We found the t(2;5) in only five of 10 cases of ALCL, four of whom were young patients. However, we also found the t(2;5) in 11 other cases of nonanaplastic lymphoma, including eight children with typical peripheral T-cell lymphomas of various types. The t(2;5) was also found in three older adults with B-cell lymphomas of various types. Thus, the t(2;5) was not specific for CD30+ ALCL. However, t(2;5) may define a clinicopathologic entity in children and young adults characterized by variable morphologies with a T-cell or indeterminate phenotype, CD30-positivity, nodal disease with frequent extranodal involvement, advanced stage, and an excellent response to therapy, including bone marrow transplantation for relapsed disease. The clinical relevance of the t(2;5) in older patients requires further study.     

Bactericidal Activity of Blood of Rabbits Vaccinated With Homologous Antigens of Campylobacter fetus (Vibrio fetus)

Rabbits were vaccinated with the following Campylobacter fetus var. venerealis (Vibrio fetus) antigens: whole-cell (WC), autoclaved (A), boiled (B), and purified postgrowth broth (PGB). Bactericidal activity of freshly drawn heparinized blood against the organism was determined after each vaccination. In all cases bactericidal activity of the blood of vaccinated rabbits was higher than for nonvaccinated rabbits. The in vitro bactericidal activity of the blood was determined in two separate experiments. In experiment I the bactericidal activity of the blood of rabbits vaccinated with PGB antigen was the same as that of rabbits vaccinated with WC antigen and higher than that of rabbits vaccinated with A antigen after the third vaccination. In experiment II the bactericidal activity of blood of rabbits vaccinated with PGB antigen was the same as that of those vaccinated with WC antigen after the second and third vaccinations and higher than for rabbits vaccinated with A antigen after the third vaccination. Blood of rabbits vaccinated with A antigen was less bactericidal than blood of rabbits vaccinated with B antigen after the third vaccination, indicating the presence of a surface antigen destroyed by autoclaving but not by boiling. The in vivo and in vitro whole blood bactericidal tests are more sensitive for measuring the response of rabbits vaccinated with WC, B, A, or PGB antigens than is the plate agglutination test.