Hongtao Ye

University of Cambridge, Cambridge, ENG, United Kingdom

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Publications (60)335.44 Total impact

  • Article: Composite Lymphoma after Chemotherapy with Regressed Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma and Transformed Cytotoxic T-cell Lymphoma.
    Leukemia & lymphoma 09/2012; · 2.40 Impact Factor
  • Article: A rare case of gastric MALT lymphoma resistant to multiple treatment regimens.
    Journal of clinical pathology 07/2012; 65(11):1049-50. · 2.43 Impact Factor
  • Article: SOX11 is useful in differentiating cyclin D1-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma from mantle cell lymphoma.
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    ABSTRACT: Hsiao S-C, Cortada I R, Colomo L, Ye H, Liu H, Kuo S-Y, Lin S-H, Chang S-T, Kuo T U, Campo E & Chuang S-S (2012) Histopathology SOX11 is useful in differentiating cyclin D1-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma from mantle cell lymphoma Aims:  To characterize the frequency and clinicopathological features of cyclin D1-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and the usefulness of SOX11 in the differential diagnosis from mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Methods and results:  We retrospectively stained 206 consecutive DLBCLs for cyclin D1, and identified three (1.5%) positive cases, comprising two in the elderly with necrosis, and a third with a starry-sky pattern. All three cases shared the same non-germinal centre B-cell (non-GCB) phenotype [CD5-/CD10-/bcl-6+/MUM1+/SOX11-], Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) negativity, and absence of CCND1 aberrations by fluorescence in-situ hybridization. The third case showed both BCL6 and MYC rearrangements: a double-hit lymphoma. In the same period there were 22 MCLs, all expressing cyclin D1, with 89% cases expressing SOX11, a frequency that is statistically different from cyclin D1-positive DLBCL. Notably, we identified a pleomorphic MCL initially misdiagnosed as DLBCL. A separate cohort of 98 DLBCL cases was negative for SOX11, with only one case expressing cyclin D1 with a GCB phenotype (CD10+/bcl-6+/MUM1-). The two patients with tumour necrosis rapidly died of disease. The other two were in complete remission after immunochemotherapy. Conclusions:  Cyclin D1-positive DLBCLs are rare, and they are negative for SOX11 or CCND1 aberration. SOX11 is useful in differentiating cyclin D1-positive DLBCL from MCL.
    Histopathology 05/2012; · 3.08 Impact Factor
  • Article: Synergism between K-rasVal12 and mutant Apc accelerates murine large intestinal tumourigenesis.
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    ABSTRACT: K-ras (KRAS) is mutated in 40-50% of human colorectal adenomas and carcinomas and plays key roles in cell proliferation, apoptosis, motility and differentiation, but its functional contribution to intestinal tumourigenesis in vivo remains incompletely understood. We have previously crossed K-rasVal12 transgenic mice with Ah-Cre mice to produce K-rasVal12/Cre offspring that inducibly express K-rasVal12 4A and 4B in the intestines, but this alone showed no significant effect on intestinal adenoma formation. Here, we crossed these mice with Min mice to evaluate the effect of K-rasVal12 and Apc mutation on intestinal tumourigenesis in vivo. The double mutant K-rasVal12/Cre/ApcMin/+ mice showed a moderate (1.86-fold) increase in adenomas in the small intestines, but a striking acceleration (6-fold increase) of large intestinal adenoma formation (P<0.01) and significantly reduced survival (by ~5 weeks) compared with control ApcMin/+ mice (P<0.01). There was recombination of the mutant K-rasVal12 transgene in 80% of large intestinal adenomas with expression of both K-rasVal12 4A and 4B isoform transcripts and expression of K-RasVal12 protein. The large intestinal adenomas showed immunohistochemical evidence of activation of MapK, Akt and Wnt signaling pathways and this was confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR analysis of relative transcript expression levels of target genes using a panel of 23 selected genes evaluated in both adenomas and non-tumour-bearing intestines. Several genes including Tiam1, Gastrin, CD44, uPA, Igfbp4, VEGF and Cox-2 that are known to be transcriptionally regulated by activation of the Wnt signaling pathway were found to be expressed at higher levels in the large intestinal adenomas from K-rasVal12/Cre/ApcMin/+ mice compared with those from controls, although other Wnt signaling pathway target genes remained unchanged. These data show that intestinal expression of K-rasVal12 accelerates Apc-initiated intestinal adenomagenesis in vivo with particularly striking tumour promotion in the large intestines and indicate synergistic effects between mutant K-ras and mutant Apc in this process.
    Oncology Reports 07/2011; 26(1):125-33. · 1.84 Impact Factor
  • Article: Primary lymphoma-like lesions of the uterine cervix; sheep in wolves' clothing.
    British Journal of Haematology 03/2011; 153(6):791-4. · 4.94 Impact Factor
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    Article: Mutant K-ras promotes carcinogen-induced murine colorectal tumourigenesis, but does not alter tumour chromosome stability.
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    ABSTRACT: K-ras (KRAS) mutations are observed in around 40% of human colorectal adenomas and carcinomas. Previously, we developed and characterized a strain of transgenic mice with inducible intestinal epithelial expression of K-ras{Val12} via a Cre/LoxP system. To evaluate the influence of mutant K-ras on carcinogen-induced colorectal tumourigenesis, we induced neoplastic alterations in the large intestines of wild-type and K-ras{Val12} mice using the colon-selective carcinogen 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH), which has been widely used to induce colorectal tumours that are histopathologically similar to those observed in humans. K-ras{Val12} expression significantly promoted DMH-induced colorectal tumourigenesis: the average lifespan of the mice decreased from 38.52 ± 1.97 weeks for 40 control mice to 32.42 ± 2.17 weeks for 26 K-ras{Val12} mice (mean ± SEM, p < 0.05) and the abundance of large intestinal tumours increased from 2.27 ± 0.15 per control mouse to 3.85 ± 0.20 in K-ras{Val12} mice (mean ± SEM, p < 0.01). Adenomas from DMH-treated K-ras{Val12} mice showed significantly higher proportions of Ki-67-positive proliferating cells (10.9 ± 0.69%) compared with those from DMH-treated wild-type mice (7.77 ± 0.47%) (mean ± SEM, p < 0.01) and a mild increase in apoptotic nuclei staining for cleaved caspase-3 (1.94 ± 0.21% compared with 1.15 ± 0.14%, mean ± SEM, p < 0.01). In the adenomas from DMH-treated K-ras{Val12} mice, K-ras{Val12} transgene recombination and expression were confirmed, with immunohistochemical evidence of strong Erk/MapK and mild PI3K/Akt pathway activation compared with adenomas from DMH-treated wild-type mice. Microarray hybridization and clustering analysis demonstrated different expression profiles in adenomas from DMH-treated wild-type and DMH-treated K-ras{Val12} mice, indicating involvement of different molecular mechanisms including Erk/MapK and PI3K/Akt signalling in K-ras{Val12}-expressing adenomas. Array-comparative genomic hybridization analysis showed chromosome stability in both cohorts, with only a very few tiny alterations observed in one adenoma from a DMH-treated K-ras{Val12} mouse. Taken together, these data show that mutant K-ras significantly promotes DMH-induced colorectal tumourigenesis, resulting in distinct changes in cell signalling and proliferation, but does not alter chromosome stability in the tumours.
    The Journal of Pathology 02/2011; 223(3):390-9. · 6.32 Impact Factor
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    Article: A20, ABIN-1/2, and CARD11 mutations and their prognostic value in gastrointestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
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    ABSTRACT: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous group of aggressive lymphomas with the activated B-cell-like subtype characterized by constitutive NF-κB activation. Activating mutations of CARD11 and inactivating mutations of A20 are frequent events in DLBCL. However, the full extent of genetic alterations in the NF-κB pathway regulators and their potential prognostic value in DLBCL remain to be investigated. We investigated the genetic abnormalities of CARD11, A20, and ABIN-1/2/3 (the A20 binding inhibitor of NF-κB) and their clinicopathologic correlation in gastrointestinal DLBCL. The somatic mutation and copy number changes of CARD11, A20, and ABIN-1/2/3 were investigated in 71 gastrointestinal DLBCLs by PCR/sequencing, and interphase FISH/array comparative genomic hybridization, respectively. The mutations identified were functionally characterized by NF-κB reporter assays and immunoprecipitation experiments. Recurrent somatic mutations were found in CARD11 (10%), A20 (17%), ABIN-1 (4%), and ABIN-2 (3%), but not in ABIN-3. In comparison with the wild-type, all CARD11 mutants were potent NF-κB activators in vitro. On the basis of the destructive nature of the observed mutations, and the findings by reporter assays and immunoprecipitation studies, most if not all of the somatic mutations that were seen in A20, ABIN-1, and ABIN-2 could impair their normal functions. Among these genetic abnormalities, A20 somatic mutation was significantly associated with both poor overall survival and event-free survival. We show further evidence of NF-κB pathway genetic abnormalities in DLBCL, which are potentially valuable in the prognosis and design of future therapeutic strategies.
    Clinical Cancer Research 01/2011; 17(6):1440-51. · 7.74 Impact Factor
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    Article: Expression of Fbxo7 in haematopoietic progenitor cells cooperates with p53 loss to promote lymphomagenesis.
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    ABSTRACT: Fbxo7 is an unusual F box protein that augments D-type cyclin complex formation with Cdk6, but not Cdk4 or Cdk2, and its over-expression has been demonstrated to transform immortalised fibroblasts in a Cdk6-dependent manner. Here we present new evidence in vitro and in vivo on the oncogenic potential of this regulatory protein in primary haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Increasing Fbxo7 expression in HSPCs suppressed their colony forming ability in vitro, specifically decreasing CD11b (Mac1) expression, and these effects were dependent on an intact p53 pathway. Furthermore, increased Fbxo7 levels enhanced the proliferative capacity of p53 null HSPCs when they were grown in reduced concentrations of stem cell factor. Finally, irradiated mice reconstituted with p53 null, but not wild-type, HSPCs expressing Fbxo7 showed a statistically significant increase in the incidence of T cell lymphoma in vivo. These data argue that Fbxo7 negatively regulates the proliferation and differentiation of HSPCs in a p53-dependent manner, and that in the absence of p53, Fbxo7 expression can promote T cell lymphomagenesis.
    PLoS ONE 01/2011; 6(6):e21165. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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    Article: Ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma in Northern China: high frequency of numerical chromosomal changes and no evidence of an association with Chlamydia psittaci.
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    ABSTRACT: Studies from different countries showed variations of genetic changes and association with Chlamydia psittaci in ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. A total of 38 ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma cases from Northern China were studied. Genetic abnormalities were investigated in 28 cases by interphase FISH. C. psittaci and other infectious agents that are commonly-associated with chronic eye disease were screened in 38 cases by PCR. Genetic abnormalities were detected in 60.7% of cases. Among them, only one showed a break-apart of the IgH gene and all others showed numerical abnormalities, including trisomy 18 in 7 cases (25%), 3 copies of BCL6 gene in 12 cases (43%), and 3 copies of C-MYC gene in 2 cases (7%). C. pneumoniae was positive in two cases (5.3%), and C. psittaci, C. trachomatis, HSV1, HSV2, ADV8, and ADV19 were not detected in any cases. In conclusion, numerical abnormalities are frequent and the chromosomal translocations commonly associated with MALT lymphomas are rare in ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma of Northern China. C. psittaci and other infectious agents are not associated with ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma in these patients.
    Leukemia & lymphoma 11/2010; 51(11):2031-8. · 2.40 Impact Factor
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    Article: Primary effusion lymphoma: genomic profiling revealed amplification of SELPLG and CORO1C encoding for proteins important for cell migration.
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    ABSTRACT: Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is associated with Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) but its pathogenesis is poorly understood. Many KSHV-associated products can deregulate cellular pathways commonly targeted in cancer. However, KSHV infection alone is insufficient for malignant transformation. PEL also lacks the chromosomal translocations seen in other lymphoma subtypes. We investigated 28 PELs and ten PEL cell lines by 1 Mb resolution array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and found frequent gains of 1q21-41 (47%), 4q28.3-35 (29%), 7q (58%), 8q (63%), 11 (32%), 12 (61%), 17q (29%), 19p (34%), and 20q (34%), and losses of 4q (32%), 11q25 (29%), and 14q32 (63%). Recurrent focal amplification was seen at several regions on chromosomes 7, 8, and 12. High-resolution chromosome-specific tile-path array CGH confirmed these findings, and identified selectin-P ligand (SELPLG) and coronin-1C (CORO1C) as the targets of a cryptic amplification at 12q24.11. Interphase FISH and quantitative PCR showed SELPLG/CORO1C amplification (>4 extra copies) and low levels of copy number gain (1-4 extra copies) in 23% of PELs, respectively. Immunohistochemistry revealed strong expression of both SELPLG and coronin-1C in the majority of PELs, irrespective of their gene dosage. SELPLG is critical for cell migration and chemotaxis, while CORO1C regulates actin-dependent processes, thus important for cell motility. Their overexpression in PEL is expected to play an important role in its pathogenesis.
    The Journal of Pathology 10/2010; 222(2):166-79. · 6.32 Impact Factor
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    Article: K-ras exon 4A has a tumour suppressor effect on carcinogen-induced murine colonic adenoma formation.
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    ABSTRACT: K-ras encodes two isoforms, K-ras 4A and 4B, that are jointly affected by K-ras activating mutations, which are prevalent in colorectal cancer (CRC). CRC shows alterations in the expressed K-ras 4A : 4B isoform ratio in favour of K-ras 4B, in tumours both with and without K-ras mutations. The present study evaluated whether K-ras 4A expression can suppress colonic adenoma development in the absence of its oncogenic allele. Mice with homozygous targeted deletions of K-ras exon 4A (K-ras(tmDelta4A/tmDelta4A)) that can express the K-ras 4B isoform only, along with heterozygous K-ras(tmDelta4A/+) and wild-type mice, were given ten weekly 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) treatments to induce colonic adenomas. There was a significant increase in both the number and the size of colonic adenomas in DMH-treated K-ras(tmDelta4A/tmDelta4A) mice, with reduced survival, compared with heterozygous and wild-type mice. No K-ras mutations were found in any of the 30 tumours tested from the three groups. Lack of expression of K-ras 4A transcripts was confirmed, whereas the relative expression levels of K-ras 4B transcripts were significantly increased in the adenomas of K-ras(tmDelta4A/tmDelta4A) mice compared with K-ras(tmDelta4A/+) and wild-type mice. Immunohistochemical studies showed that adenomas of K-ras(tmDelta4A/tmDelta4A) mice had significantly increased cell proliferation and significantly decreased apoptosis with evidence of activation of MapKinase and Akt pathways, with increased phospho-Erk1/2 and both phospho-Akt-Thr308 and phospho-Akt-Ser473 immunostaining, compared with adenomas from K-ras(tmDelta4A/+) and wild-type mice. In conclusion, following DMH treatment, K-ras exon 4A deletion promoted increased number and size of colonic adenomas showing increased K-ras 4B expression, increased proliferation, decreased apoptosis, and activation of MapKinase and Akt pathways, in the absence of K-ras mutations. Therefore, K-ras 4A expression had a tumour suppressor effect on carcinogen-induced murine colonic adenoma formation, explaining the selective advantage of the altered K-ras 4A : 4B isoform ratio found in human colorectal cancer.
    The Journal of Pathology 04/2010; 220(5):542-50. · 6.32 Impact Factor
  • Article: Splenic marginal zone lymphoma: characterization of 7q deletion and its value in diagnosis.
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    ABSTRACT: The diagnosis of splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) is frequently a challenge, due to its lack of specific histological features and immunophenotypic markers, and the existence of other poorly characterized splenic lymphomas defying classification. Moreover, the clinical outcome of SMZL is variable, with 30% of cases pursuing an aggressive clinical course, the prediction of which remains problematic. Thus, there is a real need for biomarkers in the diagnosis and prognostication of SMZL. To search for genetic markers, we comprehensively investigated the genomic profile, TP53 abnormalities, and immunoglobulin heavy gene (IGH) mutation in a large cohort of SMZLs. 1 Mb resolution array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) on 25 SMZLs identified 7q32 deletion (44%) as the most frequent copy number change, followed by gains of 3q (32%), 8q (20%), 9q34 (20%), 12q23-24 (8%), and chromosome 18 (12%), and losses of 6q (16%), 8p (12%), and 17p (8%). High-resolution chromosome 7 tile-path aCGH on 17 SMZLs with 7q32 deletion identified by 1 Mb aCGH or interphase FISH screening mapped the minimal common deletion to a 3 Mb region at 7q32.1-32.2. Although it is not yet possible to identify the genes targeted by the deletion, interphase FISH screening showed that the deletion was seen in SMZL (19/56 = 34%) and splenic B-cell lymphoma/leukaemia unclassifiable (3/9 = 33%), but not in 39 cases of other splenic lymphomas including chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (n = 14), hairy cell leukaemia (4), mantle cell lymphoma (12), follicular lymphoma (6), and others. In SMZL, 7q32 deletion was inversely correlated with trisomy 18, but not associated with other copy number changes, TP53 abnormalities, or IGH mutation status. None of the genetic parameters examined showed significant and independent association with overall or event-free survival. In conclusion, 7q32 deletion is a characteristic feature of SMZL, albeit seen in isolated cases of splenic B-cell lymphoma/leukaemia unclassifiable, and its detection may help the differential diagnosis of splenic B-cell lymphomas.
    The Journal of Pathology 03/2010; 220(4):461-74. · 6.32 Impact Factor
  • Article: Continual monitoring of intraepithelial lymphocyte immunophenotype and clonality is more important than snapshot analysis in the surveillance of refractory coeliac disease.
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    ABSTRACT: An aberrant immunophenotype and monoclonality of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) are frequently found in refractory coeliac disease (RCD). However, the utility of continual monitoring of IEL immunophenotype and clonality in the surveillance of RCD remains to be studied. The diagnostic and follow-up biopsies from 33 patients with CD, 7 with suspected RCD, 41 with RCD and 20 with enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma (EATL) (including 11 evolved from RCD) were investigated by CD3epsilon/CD8 double immunohistochemistry and PCR-based clonality analysis of the rearranged T cell receptor (TCR) genes. An aberrant immunophenotype (CD3epsilon(+)CD8(-) IELs > or =40%) and monoclonality were detected occasionally in CD biopsies, either transiently in patients with CD not compliant with a gluten-free diet or in those who subsequently developed suspected RCD, RCD or EATL. In contrast, the aberrant immunophenotype and monoclonality were found in 30 of 41 (73%) and 24 of 37 (65%) biopsies, respectively, at the time of RCD diagnosis. Among the patients with RCD who did not show these abnormalities in their diagnostic biopsies, 8 of 10 (80%) and 5 of 11 (45%) cases gained an aberrant immunophenotype and monoclonality, respectively, during follow-up. Irrespective of whether detected in diagnostic or follow-up biopsies, persistence of both abnormalities was characteristic of RCD. Importantly, the presence of concurrent persistent monoclonality and aberrant immunophenotype, especially > or =80% CD3epsilon(+)CD8(-) IELs, was a strong predictor of EATL development in patients with RCD (p=0.001). Continual monitoring of both immunophenotype and clonality of IELs is more important than snapshot analysis for RCD diagnosis and follow-up, and could provide a useful tool for surveillance of patients at risk of EATL.
    Gut 12/2009; 59(4):452-60. · 10.11 Impact Factor
  • Article: The t(14;18)(q32;q21)/IGH-MALT1 translocation in MALT lymphomas contains templated nucleotide insertions and a major breakpoint region similar to follicular and mantle cell lymphoma.
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    ABSTRACT: The t(14;18)(q32;q21) involving the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus (IGH) and the MALT1 gene is a recurrent abnormality in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas. However, the nucleotide sequence of only one t(14;18)-positive MALT lymphoma has been reported so far. We here report the molecular characterization of the IGH-MALT1 fusion products in 5 new cases of t(14;18)-positive MALT lymphomas. Similar to the IGH-associated translocations in follicular and mantle cell lymphomas, the IGH-MALT1 junctions in MALT lymphoma showed all features of a recombination signal sequence-guided V(D)J-mediated translocation at the IGH locus. Furthermore, analogous to follicular and mantle cell lymphoma, templated nucleotides (T-nucleotides) were identified at the t(14;18)/IGH-MALT1 breakpoint junctions. On chromosome 18, we identified a novel major breakpoint region in MALT1 upstream of its coding region. Moreover, the presence of duplications of MALT1 nucleotides in one case suggests an underlying staggered DNA-break process not consistent with V(D)J-mediated recombination. The molecular characteristics of the t(14;18)/IGH-MALT1 resemble those found in the t(14;18)/IGH-BCL2 in follicular lymphoma and t(11;14)/CCND1-IGH in mantle cell lymphoma, suggesting that these translocations could be generated by common pathomechanisms involving illegitimate V(D)J-mediated recombination on IGH as well as new synthesis of T-nucleotides and nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) or alternative NHEJ repair pathways on the IGH-translocation partner.
    Blood 11/2009; 115(11):2214-9. · 9.90 Impact Factor
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    Article: Mutated K-ras(Asp12) promotes tumourigenesis in Apc(Min) mice more in the large than the small intestines, with synergistic effects between K-ras and Wnt pathways.
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    ABSTRACT: Summary K-ras mutations are found in 40-50% of human colorectal adenomas and carcinomas, but their functional contribution remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that a conditional mutant K-ras mouse model (K-ras(Asp12)/Cre), with transient intestinal Cre activation by beta-Naphthoflavone (beta-NF) treatment, displayed transgene recombination and K-ras(Asp12) expression in the murine intestines, but developed few intestinal adenomas over 2 years. However, when crossed with Apc(Min/+) mice, the K-ras(Asp12)/Cre/Apc(Min/+) offspring showed acceleration of intestinal tumourigenesis with significantly changed average lifespan (P < 0.05) decreased to 18.4 +/- 5.4 weeks from 20.9 +/- 4.7 weeks (control Apc(Min/+) mice). The numbers of adenomas in the small intestine and large intestine were significantly (P < 0.01) increased by 1.5-fold and 5.7-fold, respectively, in K-ras(Asp12)/Cre/Apc(Min/+) mice compared with Apc(Min/+) mice, with the more marked increase in adenoma prevalence in the large intestine. To explore possible mechanisms for K-ras(Asp12) and Apc(Min) co-operation, the Mitogen-activated protein kinase (Mapk), Akt and Wnt signalling pathways, including selected target gene expression levels, were evaluated in normal large intestine and large intestinal tumours. K-ras(Asp12) increased activation of Mapk and Akt signalling pathway targets phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pErk) and pAkt, and increased relative expression levels of Wnt pathway targets vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), gastrin, cyclo-oxygenase 2 (Cox2) and T-cell lymphoma invasion and metastasis 1 (Tiam1) in K-ras(Asp12)/Cre/Apc(Min/+) adenomas compared with that of Apc(Min/+) adenomas, although other Wnt signalling pathway target genes such as Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta (PPARd), matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7), protein phosphatase 1 alpha (PP1A) and c-myc remained unchanged. In conclusion, intestinal expression of K-ras(Asp12) promotes mutant Apc-initiated intestinal adenoma formation in vivo more in the large intestine than the small intestine, with evidence of synergistic co-operation between mutant K-ras and Apc involving increased expression of some Wnt-pathway target genes.
    International Journal of Experimental Pathology 10/2009; 90(5):558-74. · 2.57 Impact Factor
  • Article: Primary intestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma presenting as multiple lymphomatous polyposis.
    Leukemia & lymphoma 08/2009; 50(7):1219-22. · 2.40 Impact Factor
  • Article: Most primary adrenal lymphomas are diffuse large B-cell lymphomas with non-germinal center B-cell phenotype, BCL6 gene rearrangement and poor prognosis.
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    ABSTRACT: Primary adrenal lymphoma is extremely rare, accounting for <1% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas, and lymphoma-associated chromosomal translocations have yet to be reported in this entity. We performed a retrospective study of 10 cases in immunocompetent patients including 4 males and 6 females with a median age of 68 years. The most common presenting symptoms were abdominal pain and fever; unexpectedly, clinically evident adrenal insufficiency was detected only in one patient. The mean tumor size at diagnosis was 8.5 cm. Half of the patients had bilateral involvement. All cases presented with stage IE disease without regional nodal involvement. Histologically, eight cases were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, all of which carried a non-germinal center B-cell phenotype. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed BCL6 gene rearrangement in 5 (83%) of 6 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas investigated. The remaining cases were one case each of plasmablastic lymphoma and extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, the first and third case of primary adrenal lymphoma of these particular lymphoma subtypes in the English literature, respectively. At a median follow-up of 4.5 months, 7 patients died of lymphoma, 1 died of an unrelated disease, 1 was alive with disease, and 1 was alive without disease. The prognosis of these patients was poor as compared with those with nodal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We speculate that the poor outcome of primary adrenal lymphoma might be related to the bulky tumor size at presentation, non-germinal center B-cell phenotype, and frequent BCL-6 gene rearrangement.
    Modern Pathology 07/2009; 22(9):1210-7. · 4.79 Impact Factor
  • Article: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia with paraimmunoblastic transformation - with comparative genomic hybridization and review of the literature.
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    ABSTRACT: Richter's transformation (RT) is the development of a high-grade lymphoma in patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). We report an extremely rare case with paraimmunoblastic transformation. A 78-year-old Taiwanese male had Rai stage 1 and Binet stage B CLL/SLL involving skin, peripheral blood (PB), and bone marrow (BM) with paraimmunoblastic transformation in the lymph node. Molecular/genomic studies showed the same clonal origin of tumor tissues at various locations with trisomy 12 and a deletion of chromosome 13q14. Interestingly, there seemed to be no additional chromosomal aberrations in the transformed nodal tissue, suggesting that the micro-environment rather than an additional genetic lesion contributed to the transformation. The patient received chemotherapy and was alive with disease after 33.5 months.
    Pathology - Research and Practice 06/2009; 206(4):276-81. · 1.21 Impact Factor
  • Article: NPM-ALK inhibits the p53 tumor suppressor pathway in an MDM2 and JNK-dependent manner.
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    ABSTRACT: Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is characterized by the presence of the t(2;5)(p23;q35) generating the nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NPM-ALK) fusion protein, a hyperactive kinase with transforming properties. Among these properties is the ability to regulate activity of the p53 tumor suppressor protein. In many human cancers, p53 is inactivated by mutation or other means, in some cases as a result of up-regulation of the negative regulator MDM2. However, the majority of ALK-expressing ALCL carry wild-type p53 and do not over express MDM2. We demonstrate a novel p53-dependent pathogenetic mechanism in ALK-expressing lymphoma. We confirm previously published reports of NPM-ALK-induced activation of the phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) stress-activated protein (SAP) kinase proteins, but in this study demonstrate a role for these in the regulation of p53 activity in an intricate signaling system. Specifically, constitutive ALK signaling leads to the functional inactivation and/or degradation of p53 in JNK and MDM2 dependent manners. We also show nuclear exclusion of p53 in a PI 3-kinase-dependent manner. Furthermore, we demonstrate that reactivation of p53 in ALK-expressing cells as a result of pharmacologic inhibition of JNK, PI 3-kinase, and/or MDM2 activities results in the induction of apoptosis suggesting a novel therapeutic modality.
    Blood 05/2009; 113(21):5217-27. · 9.90 Impact Factor
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    Article: Auto-ubiquitination-induced degradation of MALT1-API2 prevents BCL10 destabilization in t(11;18)(q21;q21)-positive MALT lymphoma.
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    ABSTRACT: The translocation t(11;18)(q21;q21) is the most frequent chromosomal aberration associated with MALT lymphoma and results in constitutive NF-kappaB activity via the expression of an API2-MALT1 fusion protein. The properties of the reciprocal MALT1-API2 were never investigated as it was reported to be rarely transcribed. Our data indicate the presence of MALT1-API2 transcripts in the majority of t(11;18)(q21;q21)-positive MALT lymphomas. Based on the breakpoints in the MALT1 and API2 gene, the MALT1-API2 protein contains the death domain and one or both immunoglobulin-like domains of MALT1 (approximately 90% of cases)--mediating the possible interaction with BCL10--fused to the RING domain of API2. Here we show that this RING domain enables MALT1-API2 to function as an E3 ubiquitin ligase for BCL10, inducing its ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation in vitro. Expression of MALT1-API2 transcripts in t(11;18)(q21;q21)-positive MALT lymphomas was however not associated with a reduction of BCL10 protein levels. As we observed MALT1-API2 to be an efficient target of its own E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, our data suggest that this inherent instability of MALT1-API2 prevents its accumulation and renders a potential effect on MALT lymphoma development via destabilization of BCL10 unlikely.
    PLoS ONE 02/2009; 4(3):e4822. · 4.09 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 2004–2012
    • University of Cambridge
      • Department of Pathology
      Cambridge, ENG, United Kingdom
  • 2011
    • University of Leicester
      Leicester, ENG, United Kingdom
  • 2009
    • Royal National Orthopaedic Hospitals NHS
      London, ENG, United Kingdom
    • University of Barcelona
      Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
  • 2007–2009
    • University Medical Center Hamburg - Eppendorf
      Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
  • 2006
    • Universität Hamburg
      • Center for Oncology
      Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
  • 2003
    • Chi-Mei Medical Center
      Tainan, Taiwan, Taiwan
  • 2002–2003
    • University College London
      • Department of Pathology
      London, ENG, United Kingdom