ALK-1–Negative Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Associated With Breast Implants: A New Clinical Entity

Survival Signals and Targets for Therapy in Breast Implant–Associated ALK−Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

“…As recently reported, breast implant-associated T-cell anaplastic large cell lymphomas are an emerging clinical entity (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). Three model cell lines, designated TLBR-1, -2, and -3, have been established from the primary tumor specimens from patients with a spectrum of indolent to aggressive BIA-ALCLs to facilitate studies of the etiology and potential therapy for these cancers.…”

“…TLBR-2 cells had a modal number of chromosomes of 76 and showed gains of chromosomes 1, 2, 5, 6, 10, 11, 14, 17, as well as clonal loss of one copy of chromosome 18, relative to a triploid genome. TLBR-3 cells showed a modal number of chromosomes of 81, gains of chromosomes X, 2,5,7,8,10,11,12,14,19,20,21, and 22, and clonal losses of one copy of chromosomes 9, 16, and 17, relative to a triploid genome. Cytogenetic analysis of the TLBR-1 cell line was reported previously (1).…”

“…Breast implant-associated (BIA) T-cell anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a recently recognized clinical entity, with 80 cases identified worldwide to date and four disease-specific fatalities (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15). BIA-ALCL presents commonly as a late seroma and/or tumor mass attached to the scar capsule containing malignant cells an average of 5.8 years after implant placement (range, 0.4-20 years; ref.…”

Update on anaplastic large cell lymphoma in women with breast implants

“…Overall, the outcomes were more favourable than would be expected for systemic ALCL. Some researchers have suggested that this form of ALCL may represent a new entity with less aggressive (indolent) behaviour (4,5). This may be similar to the less aggressive primary cutaneous form of ALKnegative ALCL, rather than the more aggressive systemic form.…”

“…Since 1997, reports from the scientific community have suggested a possible association, without evidence of causation, between breast implants and ALCL (3)(4)(5)(6)(7). This form of ALCL is not a cancer of the breast tissue, rather, it is a cancer of T cell lymphocytes.…”