Molecular Drivers of Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

Breast implant-associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL) is a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder occurring in patients with breast implants. Genomic characterization performed in BIA-ALCL to date has demonstrated qualitatively similar molecular abnormalities to those seen in its more common counterpart [ALK-negative systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL)] including JAK/STAT activation and MYC/TP53 dysregulation. Despite these observed similarities at the molecular level, the outcomes of sALCL and BIA-ALCL are markedly different with sALCL typically associated with an aggressive course and inferior outcomes compared with BIA-ALCL. This review describes the findings of high-throughput sequencing and other genomic characterization to date in BIA-ALCL and the insights these studies have given into the molecular drivers of this rare lymphoma subtype.