Sezary syndrome

Haematolymphoid Tumours (WHO Classification, 5th ed.)

editContent Update To WHO 5th Edition Classification Is In Process; Content Below is Based on WHO 4th Edition Classification

This page was converted to the new template on 2023-12-07. The original page can be found at HAEM4:Sézary Syndrome.

(General Instructions – The focus of these pages is the clinically significant genetic alterations in each disease type. This is based on up-to-date knowledge from multiple resources such as PubMed and the WHO classification books. The CCGA is meant to be a supplemental resource to the WHO classification books; the CCGA captures in a continually updated wiki-stye manner the current genetics/genomics knowledge of each disease, which evolves more rapidly than books can be revised and published. If the same disease is described in multiple WHO classification books, the genetics-related information for that disease will be consolidated into a single main page that has this template (other pages would only contain a link to this main page). Use HUGO-approved gene names and symbols (italicized when appropriate), HGVS-based nomenclature for variants, as well as generic names of drugs and testing platforms or assays if applicable. Please complete tables whenever possible and do not delete them (add N/A if not applicable in the table and delete the examples); to add (or move) a row or column in a table, click nearby within the table and select the > symbol that appears. Please do not delete or alter the section headings. The use of bullet points alongside short blocks of text rather than only large paragraphs is encouraged. Additional instructions below in italicized blue text should not be included in the final page content. Please also see Author_Instructions and FAQs as well as contact your Associate Editor or Technical Support.)

Primary Author(s)*

Madison E. Hannay, DO, Medical University of South Carolina

Tingting Barrett, MD, Medical University of South Carolina

Daynna J. Wolff, PhD, Medical University of South Carolina

WHO Classification of Disease

Structure	Disease
Book	Haematolymphoid Tumours (5th ed.)
Category	T-cell and NK-cell lymphoid proliferations and lymphomas
Family	Mature T-cell and NK-cell neoplasms
Type	Mature T-cell and NK-cell leukaemias
Subtype(s)	Sezary syndrome

WHO Essential and Desirable Genetic Diagnostic Criteria

(Instructions: The table will have the diagnostic criteria from the WHO book autocompleted; remove any non-genetics related criteria. If applicable, add text about other classification systems that define this entity and specify how the genetics-related criteria differ.)

WHO Essential Criteria (Genetics)*
WHO Desirable Criteria (Genetics)*
Other Classification

*Note: These are only the genetic/genomic criteria. Additional diagnostic criteria can be found in the WHO Classification of Tumours.

Related Terminology

(Instructions: The table will have the related terminology from the WHO autocompleted.)

Acceptable
Not Recommended

Gene Rearrangements

Put your text here and fill in the table (Instructions: Details on clinical significance such as prognosis and other important information can be provided in the notes section. Please include references throughout the table. Do not delete the table.)

Driver Gene	Fusion(s) and Common Partner Genes	Molecular Pathogenesis	Typical Chromosomal Alteration(s)	Prevalence -Common >20%, Recurrent 5-20% or Rare <5% (Disease)	Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Significance - D, P, T	Established Clinical Significance Per Guidelines - Yes or No (Source)	Clinical Relevance Details/Other Notes
EXAMPLE: ABL1	EXAMPLE: BCR::ABL1	EXAMPLE: The pathogenic derivative is the der(22) resulting in fusion of 5’ BCR and 3’ABL1.	EXAMPLE: t(9;22)(q34;q11.2)	EXAMPLE: Common (CML)	EXAMPLE: D, P, T	EXAMPLE: Yes (WHO, NCCN)	EXAMPLE: The t(9;22) is diagnostic of CML in the appropriate morphology and clinical context (add reference). This fusion is responsive to targeted therapy such as Imatinib (Gleevec) (add reference). BCR::ABL1 is generally favorable in CML (add reference).
EXAMPLE: CIC	EXAMPLE: CIC::DUX4	EXAMPLE: Typically, the last exon of CIC is fused to DUX4. The fusion breakpoint in CIC is usually intra-exonic and removes an inhibitory sequence, upregulating PEA3 genes downstream of CIC including ETV1, ETV4, and ETV5.	EXAMPLE: t(4;19)(q25;q13)	EXAMPLE: Common (CIC-rearranged sarcoma)	EXAMPLE: D		EXAMPLE: DUX4 has many homologous genes; an alternate translocation in a minority of cases is t(10;19), but this is usually indistinguishable from t(4;19) by short-read sequencing (add references).
EXAMPLE: ALK	EXAMPLE: ELM4::ALK Other fusion partners include KIF5B, NPM1, STRN, TFG, TPM3, CLTC, KLC1	EXAMPLE: Fusions result in constitutive activation of the ALK tyrosine kinase. The most common ALK fusion is EML4::ALK, with breakpoints in intron 19 of ALK. At the transcript level, a variable (5’) partner gene is fused to 3’ ALK at exon 20. Rarely, ALK fusions contain exon 19 due to breakpoints in intron 18.	EXAMPLE: N/A	EXAMPLE: Rare (Lung adenocarcinoma)	EXAMPLE: T		EXAMPLE: Both balanced and unbalanced forms are observed by FISH (add references).
EXAMPLE: ABL1	EXAMPLE: N/A	EXAMPLE: Intragenic deletion of exons 2–7 in EGFR removes the ligand-binding domain, resulting in a constitutively active tyrosine kinase with downstream activation of multiple oncogenic pathways.	EXAMPLE: N/A	EXAMPLE: Recurrent (IDH-wildtype Glioblastoma)	EXAMPLE: D, P, T

editv4:Chromosomal Rearrangements (Gene Fusions)

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Clonal T cell receptor gene (TCR) rearrangement is characteristic of SS.  Characteristically, PLS3, DNM3, TWIST1, and EPHA4 are overexpressed, and STAT4 is underexpressed.

Balanced translocations have not been detected in SS.

Gene fusion between CTLA4 and CD28 is highly expressed. Additional fusion events include TYK2-UPF1, COL25A1-NFKB2, FASN-SGMS1, SMS1-ZEB1, SPATA21-RASA2, PITRM1-HK1, and BCR-NDUFAF6.

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editv4:Clinical Significance (Diagnosis, Prognosis and Therapeutic Implications).

Please incorporate this section into the relevant tables found in:

• Chromosomal Rearrangements (Gene Fusions)
• Individual Region Genomic Gain/Loss/LOH
• Characteristic Chromosomal Patterns
• Gene Mutations (SNV/INDEL)

SS is aggressive; however, prognosis is variable and largely depends on stage.  A median survival of 32 months and a 5-year survival rate of 10-30% has been reported .  Death usually results from opportunistic infections, as SS patients are at an increased risk for infection due to underlying immune dysfunction. Lymph node and visceral involvement are poor prognostic factors, as is the degree of peripheral blood involvement by Sézary cells.  Bone marrow involvement is of unknown prognostic relevance .  

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Individual Region Genomic Gain/Loss/LOH

Put your text here and fill in the table (Instructions: Includes aberrations not involving gene rearrangements. Details on clinical significance such as prognosis and other important information can be provided in the notes section. Can refer to CGC workgroup tables as linked on the homepage if applicable. Please include references throughout the table. Do not delete the table.)

Chr #	Gain, Loss, Amp, LOH	Minimal Region Cytoband and/or Genomic Coordinates [Genome Build; Size]	Relevant Gene(s)	Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Significance - D, P, T	Established Clinical Significance Per Guidelines - Yes or No (Source)	Clinical Relevance Details/Other Notes
EXAMPLE: 7	EXAMPLE: Loss	EXAMPLE: chr7	EXAMPLE: Unknown	EXAMPLE: D, P	EXAMPLE: No	EXAMPLE: Presence of monosomy 7 (or 7q deletion) is sufficient for a diagnosis of AML with MDS-related changes when there is ≥20% blasts and no prior therapy (add reference).  Monosomy 7/7q deletion is associated with a poor prognosis in AML (add references).
EXAMPLE: 8	EXAMPLE: Gain	EXAMPLE: chr8	EXAMPLE: Unknown	EXAMPLE: D, P		EXAMPLE: Common recurrent secondary finding for t(8;21) (add references).
EXAMPLE: 17	EXAMPLE: Amp	EXAMPLE: 17q12; chr17:39,700,064-39,728,658 [hg38; 28.6 kb]	EXAMPLE: ERBB2	EXAMPLE: D, P, T		EXAMPLE: Amplification of ERBB2 is associated with HER2 overexpression in HER2 positive breast cancer (add references). Add criteria for how amplification is defined.

editv4:Genomic Gain/Loss/LOH

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Recurrent gain-of-function mutations in SS include PLGC1, CD28, and TNFRSF1B. Recurrent loss-of-function mutations include ARID1A, which has been observed in 40% of SS cases.

Somatic duplications can be found ranging from duplications of chromosome bands (8p23.3-q24.3, 17p11.2-q23.2) to entire chromosomes (chr 18). Several somatic deletions have also been demonstrated including a 15-25 Mb deletion on 17p12-p13.3.

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Characteristic Chromosomal or Other Global Mutational Patterns

Put your text here and fill in the table (Instructions: Included in this category are alterations such as hyperdiploid; gain of odd number chromosomes including typically chromosome 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 17; co-deletion of 1p and 19q; complex karyotypes without characteristic genetic findings; chromothripsis; microsatellite instability; homologous recombination deficiency; mutational signature pattern; etc. Details on clinical significance such as prognosis and other important information can be provided in the notes section. Please include references throughout the table. Do not delete the table.)

Chromosomal Pattern	Molecular Pathogenesis	Prevalence - Common >20%, Recurrent 5-20% or Rare <5% (Disease)	Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Significance - D, P, T	Established Clinical Significance Per Guidelines - Yes or No (Source)	Clinical Relevance Details/Other Notes
EXAMPLE: Co-deletion of 1p and 18q	EXAMPLE: See chromosomal rearrangements table as this pattern is due to an unbalanced derivative translocation associated with oligodendroglioma (add reference).	EXAMPLE: Common (Oligodendroglioma)	EXAMPLE: D, P
EXAMPLE: Microsatellite instability - hypermutated		EXAMPLE: Common (Endometrial carcinoma)	EXAMPLE: P, T

editv4:Characteristic Chromosomal Aberrations / Patterns

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Numerical and structural alterations are common in SS.  These include loss of 1p, 6q, and 10q with gains of 7 and 8q.  Isochromosome 17q is a recurrent finding in SS.

Deletions are often associated with loss of tumor suppressor genes such as recurrent deletions involving 17p13.1 (TP53), 13q14.2 (RB1), 10q23.3 (PTEN) and 12p13.1 (CDKN1B). Focal chromosome 2p23.3 deletions (DNMT3A) were observed.

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Gene Mutations (SNV/INDEL)

Put your text here and fill in the table (Instructions: This table is not meant to be an exhaustive list; please include only genes/alterations that are recurrent or common as well either disease defining and/or clinically significant. If a gene has multiple mechanisms depending on the type or site of the alteration, add multiple entries in the table. For clinical significance, denote associations with FDA-approved therapy (not an extensive list of applicable drugs) and NCCN or other national guidelines if applicable; Can also refer to CGC workgroup tables as linked on the homepage if applicable as well as any high impact papers or reviews of gene mutations in this entity. Details on clinical significance such as prognosis and other important information such as concomitant and mutually exclusive mutations can be provided in the notes section. Please include references throughout the table. Do not delete the table.)

Gene	Genetic Alteration	Tumor Suppressor Gene, Oncogene, Other	Prevalence - Common >20%, Recurrent 5-20% or Rare <5% (Disease)	Diagnostic, Prognostic, and Therapeutic Significance - D, P, T	Established Clinical Significance Per Guidelines - Yes or No (Source)	Clinical Relevance Details/Other Notes
EXAMPLE:EGFR	EXAMPLE: Exon 18-21 activating mutations	EXAMPLE: Oncogene	EXAMPLE: Common (lung cancer)	EXAMPLE: T	EXAMPLE: Yes (NCCN)	EXAMPLE: Exons 18, 19, and 21 mutations are targetable for therapy. Exon 20 T790M variants cause resistance to first generation TKI therapy and are targetable by second and third generation TKIs (add references).
EXAMPLE: TP53; Variable LOF mutations	EXAMPLE: Variable LOF mutations	EXAMPLE: Tumor Supressor Gene	EXAMPLE: Common (breast cancer)	EXAMPLE: P		EXAMPLE: >90% are somatic; rare germline alterations associated with Li-Fraumeni syndrome (add reference). Denotes a poor prognosis in breast cancer.
EXAMPLE: BRAF; Activating mutations	EXAMPLE: Activating mutations	EXAMPLE: Oncogene	EXAMPLE: Common (melanoma)	EXAMPLE: T

Note: A more extensive list of mutations can be found in cBioportal, COSMIC, and/or other databases. When applicable, gene-specific pages within the CCGA site directly link to pertinent external content.

editv4:Gene Mutations (SNV/INDEL)

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The mutational landscape of Sezary syndrome is complex and over 1000 different gene mutations have been identified. Mutational signature characterized by C>T substitutions at NpCpG trinucleotides and C>A substitutions at CpCpN trinucleotides and C>T substitutions at CpCpN and TpCpN trinulceotides have been identified.

RHOA mutations have also been described in SS.  Mutations (including single nucleotide mutations and copy number variants) in the JAK/STAT pathway likely result in the constitutive activation of STAT3 in Sézary cells.  Inactivating mutations in TP53 and deletions of CDKN2A (p16INK4a) are frequent.  Mutations in DNMT3A have been reported in SS.

Mutations in epigenetic regulator genes including TET2, CREBPP, KMT2C (MLL3) histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferase, WI/SNF, and NuRD chromatin-remodeling complexes have been demonstrated as well.

Recurrent mutations in TP53, ITPR1, DSC1 and PKHD1L1 are found in a cohort study by Prasad et al. The study found damaging mutations to ITPR1 in two Sezary Syndrome patients. ITPR1 mediates calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum and may be functional partners with BCL2, which is an apoptosis suppressor.

Mutations in the p53, p15, p16, JunB, and PTEN genes are generally found in late-stage disease, suggesting that they are secondary genetic events after disease initiation.

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Epigenomic Alterations

Hypermethylation and inactivation of genes involved in the FAS-dependent apoptotic pathway is frequently reported in SS.

Genes and Main Pathways Involved

Put your text here and fill in the table (Instructions: Please include references throughout the table. Do not delete the table.)

Gene; Genetic Alteration	Pathway	Pathophysiologic Outcome
EXAMPLE: BRAF and MAP2K1; Activating mutations	EXAMPLE: MAPK signaling	EXAMPLE: Increased cell growth and proliferation
EXAMPLE: CDKN2A; Inactivating mutations	EXAMPLE: Cell cycle regulation	EXAMPLE: Unregulated cell division
EXAMPLE: KMT2C and ARID1A; Inactivating mutations	EXAMPLE: Histone modification, chromatin remodeling	EXAMPLE: Abnormal gene expression program

editv4:Genes and Main Pathways Involved

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Loss of Fas expression, which is involved in T-cell apoptotic pathways, has also been reported. Specifically, changes affecting the Fas ligand is seen in 50-83% of cases. Loss of Fas expression is seen in 14-59% of cases.

Genes involved in NF-kB signaling, chromatin remodeling, and DNA damage response have also been found to be altered. Notably, alterations to signaling pathways including Jak/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling and cell-cycle checkpoint have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis.

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Genetic Diagnostic Testing Methods

As discussed in the morphology section, histologically, a band-like lymphocytic infiltrate are often seen in the upper dermis. Epidermotropism of atypical T cells with small to normal size with irregular (cerebriform) nuclei is frequent. Pautrier microabscesses consisting of malignant T cells and dendritic cells can be a specific but insensitive sign.

Immunohistochemical staining generally shows atypical CD4+ T cells, or sometimes CD8+ T cells in children with mycosis fungoides. Loss of T cell antigens (CD2, CD3, CD5, CD7, CD26) may be seen. Clonal T-cell receptor rearrangement may be detected via PCR.

Flow cytometry can be used to identify potentially malignant subsets of T-cells as well as for quantifying treatment response.

Links

Mycosis Fungoides

Notes

*Primary authors will typically be those that initially create and complete the content of a page. If a subsequent user modifies the content and feels the effort put forth is of high enough significance to warrant listing in the authorship section, please contact the CCGA coordinators (contact information provided on the homepage). Additional global feedback or concerns are also welcome.

*Citation of this Page: “Sezary syndrome”. Compendium of Cancer Genome Aberrations (CCGA), Cancer Genomics Consortium (CGC), updated 02/19/2025, https://ccga.io/index.php/HAEM5:Sezary_syndrome.