Amplifications of AURKA and AURKB in a Burkitt lymphoma immunodeficiency-associated type: a case report

Abstract

In equatorial Brazil, the association of Burkitt lymphoma and Epstein–Barr virus manifests at high rates. Here, we report, for the first time, amplifications of aurora kinase genes ( AURKA/B ) in a patient with a history of periodontal abscess and the presence of a remaining nodule, diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma and Epstein–Barr virus, and /HIV positive. The patient was a 38-year-old man who presented with a 2-week-old severe jaw pain and a 3-day-old severe bilateral headache. He had a history of human papilloma virus. Interphase FISH analysis showed AURKA and AURKB amplification. The patient’s condition worsened, progressing to death a month after the initial care. Changes in the MYCC and AURKA pathways are directly associated with genomic instability. Thus, MYCC rearrangements and higher expression of AURKA/B may be associated with therapy resistance, highlighting the importance of AURKA/B evaluation in Burkitt lymphoma.