Value of TOX Immunoexpression in the Diagnosis of Early Mycosis Fungoides

Background: The lack of a specific marker to differentiate malignant from reactiveT-cells makes a definite diagnosis difficult in patients suspected of having mycosisfungoides. This study has evaluated value of thymocyte selection-associated highmobility group box factor expression in the differentiation of early mycosis fungoidesfrom a benign inflammatory dermatosis.Methods:We selected ۲۲ mycosis fungoides cases, ۱۸ cases suspicious for mycosisfungoides, and ۱۲ cases of eczematous dermatitis from patients who attendedDermatology Clinic, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (۲۰۰۸-۲۰۱۵). The obtainedskin biopsies were immunostained for thymocyte selection-associated high mobilitygroup box factor antigen in addition to pan T cell markers. The slides were evaluatedfor the percentage of tumor cells and intensity of immunoreactivity.Results: From ۲۲ cases of mycosis fungoides, ۴۰.۹% showed massive infiltrationof thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box factor-positive lymphocytes(>۳۰%) with high (۳+) intensity in the epidermis; there was no case negative forthymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box factor expression. Only oneeczematous dermatitis case had expression of thymocyte selection-associated highmobility group box factor-positive lymphocytes (>۳۰%) with high intensity and ۴ caseswere negative for thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box factorexpression. The frequency of thymocyte selection-associated high mobility groupbox factor expressing lymphocytes was higher in biopsies from mycosis fungoidescompared to eczematous dermatitis (P<۰.۰۵). CD۷- cases expressed more thymocyteselection-associated high mobility group box factor-positive lymphocytes in the dermisand epidermis, which were significantly correlated (P=۰.۰۱۳).Conclusion: Thymocyte selection-associated high mobility group box factor, as apositive marker, in combination with pan T cell markers (especially CD۷-) can be usefulto detect mycosis fungoides malignant lymphoid cells.

کلیدواژه ها:

MF ، TOX Immunoexpression ، T cell markers ، CD۷-