Biclonality of Composite B- and T-cell Lymphomas A Case Report

Most composite lymphomas which are composed morphologically of two different tumor cell types are considered to represent different morphological expressions of a single clone. However, in recent years, composite B- and T cell lymphomas and biclonality of B cell lymphoma have been reported. We experienced a case of composite lymphoma which initially developed as cutaneous lymphoma composed of lymphoplasmacytes associated with large clear cells. It was confirmed that the tumor cells of these two systems were biclonal on the basis of surface markers and DNA rearrangements, i.e. B cells of the IgG kappa type, showing IgH and kappa chain DNA rearrangement, and Tcells with CD4 surface marker, showing rearrangement of the T cell receptor beta chain gene. This case showed a predominant B cell pattern at the initial stage, and terminated in T cell lymphoma, as revealed at autopsy. Therefore we considered this case to be a unique composite lymphoma showing biclonality of both B- and T-cell systems, providing a number of suggestions for future study of malignant lymphoma.