Gene expression profiling reveals 2 overarching types of ALCL with distinct targetable biology: an LLMPP study

A Andrew L. Feldman (1Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN) S Surendra Dasari L Lisa M. Rimsza (3Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Arizona College of Medicine and Science, Tucson, AZ) D David W. Scott (5Centre for Lymphoid Cancer, British Columbia Cancer, Vancouver, Canada) N Naoki Oishi G Guangzhen Hu (1Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN) P Pedro Farinha (6BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada) C Catalina Amador (7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL) E Elias Campo W Wing C. Chan J James R. Cook (10Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH) J Jan Delabie (University Health Network, Toronto) K Kai Fu (State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering) T Timothy C. Greiner L Laura K. Hilton (4Centre for Lymphoid Cancer, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada) G Giorgio Inghirami J Javeed Iqbal E Elaine S. Jaffe (11Hematopathology Section, Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) R Ryan D. Morin (4Centre for Lymphoid Cancer, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada) S Sarah L. Ondrejka (10Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH) G German Ott (16Department of Clinical Pathology, Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany) S Stefania Pittaluga P Philipp W. Raess (17Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR) A Andreas Rosenwald K Kerry J. Savage (6BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada) G Graham W. Slack (6BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada) S Susan L. Slager (2Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN) J Joo Y. Song G George W. Wright (19Biometric Research Program, Division of Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD) H Hao-Wei Wang Y Yu Zeng T Tadashi Yoshino (21Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan) X Xiaojun Wu R Ryan A. Wilcox (23Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI) X Xueju Wang M Min Shi (East China University of Science and Technology , , 130 Meilong Road , ,) A Akira Satou A Anamarija M. Perry (26Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI) R Roberto N. Miranda (27Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX) L L. Jeffrey Medeiros (27Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX) M Matthew J. Maurer (2Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN) E Eric Mou (24Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA) Y Young-Hyeh Ko (29Department of Pathology, Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea) K Kennosuke Karube (30Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan) B Brad S. Kahl (30Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO) L Liuyan Jiang (32Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL) D David L. Jaye (33Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA) A Alejandro A. Gru (34Dermatopathology Section, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York–Presbyterian, New York, NY) L Laurence de Leval W Weina Chen (Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center) J Jennifer R. Chapman (7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL) J James R. Cerhan C Carlos Barrionuevo (37Departamento de Patología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, and Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru) S Stephen M. Ansell (3Department of Hematology/Oncology, Mayo School of Graduate Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN) A Ahmed A. Aljudi (39Department of Pathology, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA)

Abstract

Abstract Anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCLs) are CD30+ T-cell lymphomas that share pathologic features but differ in presentation, outcome, and genetics. Current classification incorporates clinical presentation and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) status but inadequately addresses molecular heterogeneity and therapeutic vulnerabilities. We studied 689 patients with ALCL in the LLMPP (Lymphoma/Leukemia Molecular Profiling Project) and performed expert consensus review, genetic subtyping (ALK, DUSP22, TP63, and triple negative), and immunohistochemistry for phosphorylated STAT3Tyr705. RNA sequencing with unsupervised gene expression profiling in 393 patients identified 2 main molecular types of ALCL that could be predicted with 91% accuracy based on the presence (type I) or absence (type II) of phosphorylated STAT3Y705 expression. Type I ALCLs included ALK+ ALCL and a subset of triple-negative ALCLs (TN-I); type II ALCLs included tumors with DUSP22 and/or TP63 rearrangements and the remaining triple-negative ALCLs (TN-II). Type I ALCLs were enriched for JAK-STAT3, whereas type II ALCLs were enriched for non–tyrosine kinase pathways, particularly epigenetic regulators such as EZH2. Immunohistochemistry showed overexpression of EZH2 and its trimethylated substrate H3K27. Prognosis in systemic ALCL was favorable for DUSP22-rearranged ALCL (5-year overall survival, 95%) and ALK+ ALCL (88%), intermediate for triple-negative ALCL (TN-I, 52% and TN-II, 37%), and poor for TP63-rearranged ALCL (0%). We introduce an integrated molecular classification that preserves currently diagnosed ALCL entities but identifies 4 molecularly distinct ALK− ALCL subtypes (DUSP22-rearranged, TP63-rearranged, TN-I, and TN-II). This classification can be easily implemented on paraffin tissue in routine practice or clinical trials, and stratifies ALCL into diagnostically, prognostically, biologically, and potentially therapeutically relevant subtypes.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 147, Issue 11
Published March 12, 2026
Pages 1199-1214
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (55)

A

Andrew L. Feldman

1Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN

S

Surendra Dasari

L

Lisa M. Rimsza

3Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Arizona College of Medicine and Science, Tucson, AZ

D

David W. Scott

5Centre for Lymphoid Cancer, British Columbia Cancer, Vancouver, Canada

N

Naoki Oishi

G

Guangzhen Hu

1Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN

P

Pedro Farinha

6BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada

C

Catalina Amador

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL

E

Elias Campo

W

Wing C. Chan

J

James R. Cook

10Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

J

Jan Delabie

University Health Network, Toronto

K

Kai Fu

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering

T

Timothy C. Greiner

L

Laura K. Hilton

4Centre for Lymphoid Cancer, BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada

G

Giorgio Inghirami

J

Javeed Iqbal

E

Elaine S. Jaffe

11Hematopathology Section, Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

R

Ryan D. Morin

4Centre for Lymphoid Cancer, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada

S

Sarah L. Ondrejka

10Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

G

German Ott

16Department of Clinical Pathology, Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus and Dr Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany

S

Stefania Pittaluga

P

Philipp W. Raess

17Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR

A

Andreas Rosenwald

K

Kerry J. Savage

6BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada

G

Graham W. Slack

6BC Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada

S

Susan L. Slager

2Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester, MN

J

Joo Y. Song

G

George W. Wright

19Biometric Research Program, Division of Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

H

Hao-Wei Wang

Y

Yu Zeng

T

Tadashi Yoshino

21Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan

X

Xiaojun Wu

R

Ryan A. Wilcox

23Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Michigan Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI

X

Xueju Wang

M

Min Shi

East China University of Science and Technology , , 130 Meilong Road , ,

A

Akira Satou

A

Anamarija M. Perry

26Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

R

Roberto N. Miranda

27Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

L

L. Jeffrey Medeiros

27Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

M

Matthew J. Maurer

2Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

E

Eric Mou

24Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

Y

Young-Hyeh Ko

29Department of Pathology, Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

K

Kennosuke Karube

30Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

B

Brad S. Kahl

30Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO

L

Liuyan Jiang

32Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL

D

David L. Jaye

33Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

A

Alejandro A. Gru

34Dermatopathology Section, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/New York–Presbyterian, New York, NY

L

Laurence de Leval

W

Weina Chen

Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

J

Jennifer R. Chapman

7Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL

J

James R. Cerhan

C

Carlos Barrionuevo

37Departamento de Patología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, and Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru

S

Stephen M. Ansell

3Department of Hematology/Oncology, Mayo School of Graduate Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

A

Ahmed A. Aljudi

39Department of Pathology, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA