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.