Burkitt-like lymphoma with 11q aberration in a patient with AIDS and a patient without AIDS: Two cases reports and literature review

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathological features and the treatment of the Burkitt-like lymphoma with 11q aberration. METHODS: We reported two patients with Burkitt-like lymphoma with 11q aberration: a 56-year-old man with AIDS (case 1) and a 37-year-old woman (case 2) without AIDS. The biopsy of cervical lymph nodes showed Burkitt-like morphologic and immunophenotypic features. But both of them lack MYC rearrangement and carry an 11q-arm aberration with proximal gains and/or telomeric losses. The diagnosis was confirmed by pathological morphology, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescence in situ hybridization. RESULT: After a cycle of R-CTOEP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, pirarubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) chemotherapy, case 1 refused to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and was followed up for 34 months without recurrence and new focus. Case 2 received R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) for two cycles and achieved PR (partial response). Then, the patient in case 2 received EPOCH (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin) for three cycles, and the right cervical mass disappeared. She achieved complete response and was followed up for 16 months without recurrence and new focus. CONCLUSION: Burkitt-like lymphoma with 11q abnormalities resembles Burkitt lymphoma morphologically but lacks MYC rearrangement and may have a better prognosis.