7050 Background: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an inflammatory myeloid neoplasm manifesting as unifocal, multifocal, multisystem (MS) or pulmonary LCH (smoking-related). In pediatric LCH, somatic BRAFV600E prevalence is reported at 55-70%, and associated with increased risk of multisystem disease and early treatment failure. Our aim was to describe the prevalence of BRAFV600E mutation and evaluate its association with clinical manifestations and outcomes in adults with LCH. Methods: A retrospective review of adult patients diagnosed with LCH consecutively seen at Mayo Clinic from 2011 to 2020 was performed.Evaluation of association of BRAFV600E mutational status and clinical factors was conducted by the Chi-square test for independence. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed via the Kaplan Meier method and compared with the log-rank test to assess the effect of BRAFV600E. Results: Of the total LCH cohort ( n= 128), 88 patients with available BRAFV600E results were included in the study. Median age at diagnosis was 41y (range 19 - 88); 52.3% were male. 40 (45.5%) patients had a BRAFV600E mutation. Increasing age was associated with BRAFV600E (10-year increase OR 1.42, 95%CI 1.07-1.89; p= 0.017). No correlation was observed between BRAFV600E status and site of disease, risk organ (RO: liver, spleen, marrow) involvement, or MS disease. Patients with BRAFV600E were 4 times more likely to receive targeted therapy ( BRAF inhibitor) than non- BRAFV600E patients ( p= 0.018). After a median follow up of 46 mo (95% CI 30.8-61.2), PFS was similar between BRAFV600E and non- BRAFV600E patients ( p= 0.167). However, patients with BRAFV600E had a worse 3-year OS compared with non- BRAFV600E patients (84% vs. 97.1%, p= 0.027). Patients who died had a significantly higher age at LCH diagnosis (median 62 vs. 38 years; p= 0.0002). Conclusions: In our cohort of adults with LCH, BRAFV600E was less frequent than reported in pediatric literature and was associated with worse OS. The frequency of BRAFV600E was positively correlated with increasing age. Contrary to reports in pediatric LCH, there were no significant associations between BRAFV600E and high-risk or multisystem disease.[Table: see text]
Phenotypes and prognostic factors in adults with Langerhans cell histiocytosis.
7049 Background: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) can manifest as single system (SS) disease, multisystem (MS) disease, or pulmonary LCH (smoking-related). There is a paucity of data on prognostic factors including risk organ (RO) involvement (liver, spleen, and bone marrow) in adult LCH, which we sought to address in this study. Methods: Single-center retrospective study of patients ≥18y diagnosed with LCH from 1998 to 2020. Univariate and multivariate analyses for progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were conducted using age, sex, organ involvement, LCH subtype, year of diagnosis, BRAF V600E status, and treatments. Results: We included 219 patients with LCH; median age 43y (range 19-88), females 51%, SS unifocal (23%), SS multifocal (6%), pulmonary (31%) and MS (40%). Commonly involved organs included lung (53%), bone (42%), skin (24%), pituitary (16%), and CNS (12%). BRAF V600E was positive in 40/88 (46%). Median follow-up duration was 6.1y (95% CI, 5.1- 7.1). On univariate analysis, factors associated with worse PFS were bone LCH, RO involvement, multifocal/MS LCH, and radiation therapy alone; those with worse OS included RO involvement, MS disease, BRAF V600E+, and age ≥45y at diagnosis. In multivariate analysis, BRAF V600E and age ≥45y at diagnosis were associated with worse mortality (Table). Median PFS was not reached (NR-NR) for SS unifocal LCH, 5mo (0-12.7) for SS multifocal LCH, 110mo (84.7-135.3) for pulmonary LCH, and 27mo (17.2-36.8) for MS LCH. 5-year OS was 97.4% for SS unifocal LCH, 100% for SS multifocal LCH, 96.1% for pulmonary LCH, and 79.9% for MS LCH. 41 (18.7%) developed a second primary malignancy (SPM), of which 11 were hematologic neoplasms. There was a trend towards a higher prevalence of SPMs in patients with BRAF V600E (28% vs. 17%; p = 0.22). Conclusions: In our large single-center study, PFS for multifocal and MS LCH was worse than SS unifocal or pulmonary LCH. RO involvement was not associated with outcomes in multivariate analysis. Overall prognosis was excellent for all subtypes except MS LCH. BRAF V600E and older age were associated with worse OS. The prevalence of SPMs was very high and needs to be explored further.[Table: see text]
Clinical and Serological Characteristics of Cold Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia with Concomitant Cold Agglutinin and Donath-Landsteiner Antibodies
Abstract Background The two major types of cold autoimmune hemolytic anemias are cold agglutinin disease (CAD) and paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH). In CAD, the cold agglutinin is usually IgM with anti-I specificity. In PCH, the Donath-Landsteiner (DL) antibody is a cold reacting IgG with anti-P specificity. In this study, we describe the clinical and serological characteristics of patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia positive for both cold agglutinin and DL antibodies. Methods On review of our immunohematology reference laboratory database, we identified patients over a 16-year period (January 2000- March 2016) with the following: i) age ≥18 years, ii) hemoglobin (Hb) <12g/dL, iii) positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) with hemolysis (increased lactate dehydrogenase/low serum haptoglobin/ elevated indirect bilirubin), and iv) tested for both CAD and DL antibodies. We classified the patients into 3 cohorts. Cohort 1 included patients positive for both cold agglutinin (titer ≥1:64) and DL antibodies. Cohort 2 consisted of patients with DL antibody but no cold agglutinin (titer <1:64), while Cohort 3 was comprised of patients with cold agglutinin but no DL antibody. We evaluated the clinical response based on the GIMEMA (Gruppo Italiano Malattie EMatologiche dell'Adulto) criteria (Barcellini W, et al . Blood 2014) defined as i) complete (CR): hemoglobin ≥12 g/dL with normalization of at least one previously abnormal hemolytic marker; ii) partial (PR): hemoglobin 10-12 g/dL with hemolysis; or iii) none (NR): if any of the above criteria were not met. Results Seven patients had cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia with concomitant cold agglutinin and DL antibodies (Cohort 1). The clinical and serological characteristics are described in table 1. The median age at diagnosis was 68 years (range: 59-78) and the median hemoglobin at onset was 10.3 g/dL (range: 8.2-10.6). Six had red cell agglutination in the blood smear. Two patients had a recent history of infection (1 with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and 1 with upper respiratory tract infection). The median follow-up was 4.8 months (range: 1.0-166.4). Five patients received steroid/other immunosuppressants and two were managed conservatively. The clinical response to treatment was CR in 28.6% patients, PR in 42.9%, and NR in 14.3%. In comparison, Cohort 2 had a 20% CR, 20% PR and 40% NR, while Cohort 3 had a 50% CR, 25% PR and 25% NR, respectively. Conclusion Our study is the first series describing patients with cold autoimmune hemolytic anemia with concomitant cold agglutinin and DL antibodies. In terms of clinical response, patients with negative DL antibodies and cold agglutinin titers >1:64 had better response (50% CR, Cohort 3) to immunosuppressants compared to patients with positive DL antibody (20-30% CR, Cohorts 1 and 2). Large scale studies may be warranted to determine the treatment strategies among patients with concomitant DL and high cold agglutinin titers. Disclosures Kay: Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Tolero Corporation: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding. Winters: Fresenius Kabi USA: Consultancy; Eliaz Therapeutics Inc: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi Inc: Other: Moderated opinion leader's forum; Wiley Blackwell: Employment; Regional Health Inc: Consultancy; Mayo Clinic: Employment; Grifols International SA: Consultancy.
Single‐agent cladribine as an effective front‐line therapy for adults with Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Background: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is the most common histiocytic disorder that is now recognized as a neoplasm by the World Health Organization. It is generally classified based on the site and extent of disease involvement (single system or multisystem). Pulmonary LCH (pLCH), an uncommon interstitial lung disease associated with smoking, often presents as isolated pulmonary disease. It is unclear whether patients with clinically isolated pLCH have extra-pulmonary lesions at diagnosis or during the course of their disease. The role of [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (FDG-PET-CT) in the staging of pLCH remains unclear. Our study aims to better characterize the utility of radiographic staging studies at time of diagnosis and prevalence of extrapulmonary disease at follow up in pLCH. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients presenting with clinical findings consistent with isolated pLCH seen at the Mayo Clinic from January 2000 to January 2020. All patients had a diagnosis of pLCH determined by chest imaging studies [computed tomography (CT) or high-resolution CT (HRCT)] or by histopathologic findings from surgical or transbronchial lung biopsy. Histopathologic findings for the diagnosis of pLCH required the presence of Langerhans cells (S100+/CD1a+/Langerin+). Patients were excluded if they had clinically apparent extra-pulmonary organ involvement at the time of diagnosis. BRAF V600E mutation was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or cell-free DNA (cfDNA). Staging was defined as FDG-PET-CT or whole body CT imaging obtained within 3 months of diagnosis of pLCH. Extra-pulmonary LCH involvement was determined by imaging characteristics or by histopathologic findings. Descriptive statistics and overall survival (OS) were analyzed with JMP software, version 14 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Results: A total of 112 patients with clinically isolated pLCH were identified. The median age at diagnosis was 45 years (range 21-73), and 48 (43%) were male. The majority (n=110, 99%) were former or current smokers with a median pack year of 25 (range 1-57). Three (3%) patients were noted to have occupational industrial exposure. Nine patients had a history of another cancer prior to their diagnosis and staging of pLCH [lung (n=4), breast (n=2), neuroendocrine (n=2), thyroid (n=1)]. Presenting symptoms included dyspnea on exertion 49 (44%), cough 18 (16%), chest pain 14 (13%), and 29 (28%) were incidentally discovered on imaging studies. On HRCT, the following characteristics were observed: 42 (38%) cystic, 32 (29%) cystic and nodular, 37 (33%) nodular, 1 (<1%) ground glass opacities. Seventy (63%) patients had lung biopsy confirmation, of which 11 (16%) patients underwent BRAF V600Emutation testing (7 by IHC, 4 by cfDNA). Six (55%) of these 11 patients were positive for BRAF V600E mutation. 34 (30%) patients underwent radiographic staging studies within 3 months of diagnosis of pLCH (25 FDG-PET-CT and 9 whole-body CT), and none of these imaging studies showed evidence of extra-pulmonary disease. Of the patients who had at least one year of follow-up (n=52), one (2%) developed extra-pulmonary disease. This patient did not undergo initial staging studies, developed headaches and was found to have a large calvarial lytic lesion within 2 months of pLCH diagnosis (BRAF V600E+). Among those who did not undergo staging at diagnosis (n=78), long term (>5 years) follow up data were available for 23 (29%), and none developed extra-pulmonary disease as determined by clinical notes or imaging studies. No patient had evidence of new extra-pulmonary involvement or second malignancy at the time of last known follow-up. After a median follow-up duration of 2.4 years (95% CI: 1.5-3.6, range: 0.1-17) ten (9%) patients died, of which 5 died of pLCH related complications. The median OS for entire cohort was 15 years (95% CI 9.1-not reached, Figure 1). Conclusion: Our study shows that adult patients with clinically isolated pLCH rarely present with extra-pulmonary manifestations at diagnosis or at follow up. These findings suggest a limited role of routine radiographic staging studies in pLCH unless clinically indicated. Studies on longer follow up of this cohort would provide further insights into the natural history of pLCH and are underway. Disclosures Bennani: Purdue Pharma: Other: Advisory Board; Verastem: Other: Advisory Board; Kite/Gilead: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding. Shah:Dren Bio: Consultancy.
In Patients with Membranous Lupus Nephritis, Exostosin-Positivity and Exostosin-Negativity Represent Two Different Phenotypes
Significance Statement Approximately 20% of patients with lupus nephritis, the most common renal manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus, show membranous lupus nephritis on kidney biopsy, and nearly 10% eventually develop ESKD. Recently, two proteins, Exostosin 1 and Exostosin 2 (EXT1/EXT2), were shown to be present in a subset of membranous lupus nephritis kidney biopsy specimens. In an examination of 374 membranous lupus nephritis kidney biopsy specimens, the authors found 32.6% to be EXT1/EXT2-positive. Kidney biopsy specimens from patients with EXT1/EXT2-positive membranous lupus nephritis showed less chronicity features (glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, and tubular atrophy) compared with those from EXT1/EXT2-negative patients. EXT1/EXT2-negative patients were also more likely to reach ESKD than EXT1/EXT2-positive patients. These findings suggest that the presence of EXT1/EXT2 is favorable, and that EXT1/EXT2-positive patients have better renal outcomes compared with EXT1/EXT2-negative patients. Background In patients with secondary (autoimmune) membranous nephropathy, two novel proteins, Exostosin 1 and Exostosin 2 (EXT1/EXT2), are potential disease antigens, biomarkers, or both. In this study, we validate the EXT1/EXT2 findings in a large cohort of membranous lupus nephritis. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with membranous lupus nephritis, and performed immunohistochemistry studies on the kidney biopsy specimens against EXT1 and EXT2. Clinicopathologic features and outcomes of EXT1/EXT2-positive versus EXT1/EXT2-negative patients were compared. Results Our study cohort included 374 biopsy-proven membranous lupus nephritis cases, of which 122 (32.6%) were EXT1/EXT2-positive and 252 (67.4%) were EXT1/EXT2-negative. EXT1/EXT2-positive patients were significantly younger ( P =0.01), had significantly lower serum creatinine levels ( P =0.02), were significantly more likely to present with proteinuria ≥3.5 g/24 h ( P =0.009), and had significantly less chronicity features (glomerulosclerosis, P =0.001 or interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy, P <0.001) on kidney biopsy. Clinical follow-up data were available for 160 patients, of which 64 (40%) biopsy results were EXT1/EXT2-positive and 96 (60%) were EXT1/EXT2-negative. The proportion of patients with class 3/4 lupus nephritis coexisting with membranous lupus nephritis was not different between the EXT1/EXT2-positive and EXT1/EXT2-negative groups (25.0% versus 32.3%; P= 0.32). The patients who were EXT1/EXT2-negative evolved to ESKD faster and more frequently compared with EXT1/EXT2-positive patients (18.8% versus 3.1%; P =0.003). Conclusions The prevalence of EXT1/EXT2 positivity was 32.6% in our cohort of membranous lupus nephritis. Compared with EXT1/EXT2-negative membranous lupus nephritis, EXT1/EXT2-positive disease appears to represent a subgroup with favorable kidney biopsy findings with respect to chronicity indices. Cases of membranous lupus nephritis that are EXT1/EXT2-negative are more likely to progress to ESKD compared with those that are EXT1/EXT2-positive.
Rosai-Dorfman Disease Displays a Unique Monocyte-Macrophage Phenotype Characterized by Expression of OCT2
Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) is a rare histiocytosis with heterogenous clinical features. In this study, we characterized the histologic and phenotypic features in 33 RDD patients to better define the pathologic diagnosis. Cases included 24 patients with extracutaneous disease (“R” group), and 9 patients with lesions limited to the skin or subcutaneous tissue (“C” group). We identified OCT2 as a novel marker for the monocyte-macrophage phenotype of RDD, expressed in 97% of RDD cases. In contrast, OCT2 expression was seen in 0% of Erdheim-Chester disease cases and 6.7% of Langerhans cell histiocytosis cases. Other markers useful in the diagnosis of RDD included S100 (100%), CD163 (88%), and cyclin D1 (97%). In a subset of cases, RDD showed moderate to strong expression of factor 13a (30%), p16 (64%), and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (45%); RDD was uniformly negative for ZBTB46, CD1a, and langerin. Within the “R group” of RDD, increased expression of factor 13a or phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase showed a statistically significant association with multifocal disease ( P <0.05). Identification of the unique monocyte-macrophage phenotype of RDD with OCT2 expression furthers our understanding of this complex disease and allows for more uniform classification.
Striking Association of Lymphoid Enhancing Factor (LEF1) Overexpression and DUSP22 Rearrangements in Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
Anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCLs) are broadly classified into ALK-positive and ALK-negative. ALK-negative ALCL is composed of DUSP22-rearranged, TP63-rearranged, and triple-negative cases. While lymphoid enhancer–binding factor (LEF1) plays a crucial role in T-cell maturation, limited data exist on its expression in T-cell lymphomas, including ALCL. We characterized the expression of LEF1 in ALCL by immunohistochemistry. LEF1 nuclear expression in the neoplastic cells was graded as negative (0), weak (1+), intermediate (2+), or strong (3+), with the percentage of LEF1-positive neoplastic cells recorded. A total of 45 ALCL cases were evaluated, of which 16 were DUSP22-rearranged. About 93.8% (15/16) DUSP22-rearranged cases showed strong expression of LEF1 in >75% tumor cells, compared with 3.4% (1/29) non–DUSP22-rearranged ALCL (P<0.0001). The striking association of LEF1 protein overexpression with DUPS22 rearrangement in ALCL was further confirmed by a gene expression profiling study which revealed significantly higher LEF1 expression in DUSP22-rearranged ALCL compared with other ALCL subtypes (P=0.0001). Although LEF1 is a nuclear mediator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, CTNNB1 RNA and protein levels were not overexpressed in LEF1-positive cases, suggesting the LEF1 overexpression in ALCL may not be involved in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The strong and uniform LEF1 expression pattern has a high positive predictive value (93.8%) and high negative predictive value (96%) for DUSP22 rearrangement in ALK-negative ALCL. The combination of characteristic morphologic and molecular features of DUSP22-rearranged cases with the high LEF1 expression further emphasizes that DUSP22-rearranged ALCL represents a distinct clinicopathologic subset of ALCL.
Detection of Monoclonal Immunoglobulin By Mass Spectrometry in Patients Evaluated for Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TMA)
INTRODUCTION: Autoantibody effects of monoclonal proteins have been described in multiple organ systems. We previously found a 5-fold higher prevalence than expected of monoclonal gammopathy (MG) in adults with TMA (21% versus 4.2%; Ravindran A et al, Kidney Int 2017). Here we investigated the prevalence of MG in patients undergoing evaluation for TMA with an ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13) activity assay performed as part of routine clinical care to evaluate for a signal of possible autoantibody pathophysiology in patients with immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP). METHODS: WAfter IRB approval, waste plasma samples from patients who had ADAMTS13 activity and inhibitor assay (Lifecodes, ATS-13, Immucor) were archived. Eligible patients included those with the following: i) ADAMTS13 activity level < 30% (n=26), ii) ADAMTS13 activity level >30% but with prior documentation of a value < 30% (n=4). A control cohort (n=49) of patients with ADAMTS13 activity level >30% (and no prior samples with a level < 30% recorded) was also included. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry detection (MALDI-TOF) was used for MG assessment. Mass spectrometry findings of only an IgG kappa MG appearing consistent with rituximab were reviewed and considered negative for MG if the patients had received rituximab prior to sample collection. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed and the following patients were excluded: i) <18 years of age (n=4), ii) iTTP in remission (n=4) at the time of sample collection, and iii) absence of microangiopathy (n=11). RESULTS: Sixty patients met eligibility criteria with the following final diagnoses: iTTP (n=14), transplant-associated TMA (n=12), infection (n=11), malignancy (n=6), complement-mediated TMA (n=5), drug-induced TMA (DITMA; n=5), shock liver (n=2), pancreatitis (n=1), cryoglobulinemia (n=1), and multifactorial (n=3). The median age was 56.5 years (yr) (standard deviation 14.4, range18-81) and 58% of patients were female. The median age was similar among patients with (57 yr) and those without MG (56 yr). Median ADAMTS-13 activity of the whole study population was 52% (0-100%); 6/14 patients with an inhibitor screen performed on the same sample had a positive result; median titer was 1.2 Bethesda units (range <0.4 - 2.8). Treatments of the acute presentation included corticosteroids (n=32), plasma exchange (n=21), rituximab (n=9), and eculizumab (n=4). None of these patients received a multiple myeloma-type treatment regimen as part of their acute management. A MG was identified in 25 patients: monoclonal in 14 patients, biclonal in 10 patients, and triclonal in 1 pt. Among the 14 patients with a single monoclonal protein, the distribution of heavy and light chains was as follows: IgG (9; 64%), IgM (3; 21%), IgA (2; 14%), lambda (8; 57%), kappa (6; 43%). Receipt of immune-modifying treatment at the time of sample draw was identified in 24 patients (9/25 with a monoclonal protein, 15/35 without a monoclonal protein; not statistically significant by 2-tail Fisher's exact test [p=0.79]), including cancer-directed therapy (n=9), graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis (n=8), solid organ transplant anti-rejection therapy (n=5), and autoimmune disease treatment (n=2). Overall, the proportion of patients with monoclonal gammopathy was similar between iTTP and other diagnoses, detailed in Table 1. Among the 14 pt with iTTP, 4 had a monoclonal protein (IgG kappa [n=2], IgA lambda [n=2]). Additionally, 1 pt with iTTP had biclonal proteins (IgG kappa and IgA kappa), which was consistent with a known prior history of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. A monoclonal protein was present in 2 of the 6 pt with a detectable inhibitor titer (0.6 and <0.4 Bethesda units). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing evaluation for iTTP with ADAMTS-13 activity testing had a high prevalence of monoclonal proteins across variable underlying diagnoses. In this heterogeneous cohort there was no significant association between iTTP and the presence of MG to support an autoantibody pathophysiologic role. Disclosures Murray: The Binding Site: Patents & Royalties: Patent Use of Mass Spec to identify monoclonal proteins licensed to The Binding Site. Pruthi:HEMA Biologics: Honoraria; Instrumentation Laboratory: Honoraria; Merck: Honoraria; CSL Behring: Honoraria; Genentech Inc.: Honoraria; Bayer Healthcare: Honoraria.
Striking Association of Lymphoid Enhancing Factor (LEF1) Overexpression and DUSP22 rearrangements in Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
Introduction: Anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALCLs) are CD30-positive T-cell lymphomas classified into ALK-positive and ALK-negative. The ALK-negative ALCLs are a genetically heterogeneous group that includes DUSP22-rearranged, TP63-rearranged and triple-negative cases. The DUSP22-rearranged ALCLs characteristically grow in a diffuse sheet-like pattern and are composed of intermediate-sized monomorphous hallmark cells, admixed with smaller cells with prominent nuclear indentations and occasional central nuclear pseudo inclusions (King RL et al, Am J Surg Pathol. 2016). Further, DUSP22-rearranged ALCL is a molecularly distinct subset of ALCL with a unique immunogenic phenotype that portends a favorable prognosis (Luchtel RA et al. Blood 2018). Lymphoid enhancer binding factor (LEF1) is a crucial nuclear mediator of the Wnt/ β-catenin pathway and a transcription factor involved in T-cell maturation. However, limited data exists on the association of LEF1 in T-cell lymphomas, including ALCL. The aims of this study were to explore LEF1 expression by immunohistochemistry in different subsets of ALCLs and to analyze the association of Wnt/ β-catenin pathway in this cohort. Methods: After approval by the institutional review board, we screened pathology reports from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 2019 and identified patients with a diagnosis of ALCL using our institutional database. Details on fluorescence in situ hybridization studies in ALK-negative cases were documented. Immunostaining for LEF1 and β catenin was performed on all cases where formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue was available. The presence or absence of β catenin nuclear staining was recorded. LEF1 nuclear staining in the neoplastic ALCL cells was graded as negative (0), weak (1+), intermediate (2+) or strong (3+) and the percentage of LEF1-positive neoplastic cells was detailed (Figure 1). LEF1 scoring was performed by manual counting of the stained nuclei out of all tumor nuclei by two pathologists (A.R. and M.S.) and the grading was reviewed by another pathologist (P.J.K.). Results: We evaluated 45 ALCL cases, including 41 (91.1%) ALK-negative and 4 (8.9%) ALK-positive ALCLs. Among the ALK-negative ALCLs, there were16 DUSP22-rearranged, and 25 non-DUSP22-rearanged (7 TP63-rearranged and 18 triple-negative) cases. Fifteen (94%) of 16 DUSP22-rearranged ALCLs showed strong expression of LEF1 in >75% tumor cells (Figure 2). In contrast, this strong and uniform LEF1 overexpression was only detected in 1 of 29 (3%) of the remaining ALCL cases (P <.0001) (Table 1). We previously characterized a distinctive molecular signature in ALK-negative ALCLs with DUSP22-rearrangements using gene expression microarray analysis on frozen ALCL tissue samples (Luchtel RA et al. Blood 2018). On examining LEF1 gene expression in this previously published dataset, DUSP22 -rearranged cases had significantly higher LEF1 expression than any other genetic subtype (triple-negative, TP63-rearranged, or ALK-positive). Overall, mean LEF1 expression was 6.3-fold higher in ALCLs with DUSP22 rearrangements than in ALCLs without DUSP22-rearrangements (P=0.0001). LEF1 is a coactivator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway; therefore, it is reasonable to hypothesize the overexpression of LEF1 may promote Wnt/β-catenin signaling. However, all LEF1-positive cases were negative for β-catenin by immunohistochemistry, suggesting that LEF1 overexpression is independent of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway signaling in these cases. Conclusions: There is a striking association between high LEF1 expression and DUSP22-rearrangements in ALCLs. The strong and uniform LEF1 expression pattern has a high positive predictive value (94%) and high negative predictive value (96%) for DUSP22- rearrangement in ALK-negative ALCLs (Table 2). The combination of characteristic morphologic and molecular features of DUSP22-rearranged cases with the unique LEF1 expression further emphasizes that DUSP22-rearranged ALCL represents a distinct clinicopathologic subset of ALCL. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.