Pathogenetic mechanisms in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas in humans.
A very large proportion of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in the United States are of B-cell origin. This group of tumors includes a variety of different pathological and clinical types. Chromosomal rearrangements play an important role in the pathogenesis of many of these tumors. In B-cells these translocation processes appear to develop as illegitimate products of physiological V-(D)-J or heavy chain switch rearrangements. The biology of the well-known chromosomal translocations is discussed. Additional biological factors in lymphomagenesis (aging, immunodeficiency, role of antigenic stimulation, and genetically determined susceptibility) are discussed.
Potter
M
M
Laboratory of Genetics, Division of Cancer Biology and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology