title: Evidence of c-myc gene abnormalities in mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma of young adult age.
abstract: Six cases of mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (MLCL) with sclerosis were analyzed for the presence and patterns of c-myc and bcl-2 loci rearrangements, and for the presence of Epstein-Barr virus DNA sequences by Southern blot hybridization, c-myc gene alterations were found in three of six cases. Two cases showed the presence of mutations or small rearrangements at the 3' end of the first exon. The c-myc gene abnormalities found in these two cases are similar to those observed in the translocation 8;14 of the endemic Burkitt's lymphomas or in its variants t(2;8) and t(8;22). A third case showed a major rearrangement of c-myc gene, with truncation within its first intron, similar to those observed in sporadic Burkitt's and in acquired immunodeficiency-associated lymphomas. None of the cases displayed bcl-2 gene rearrangements or contained viral sequences. Our data suggest a possible role for a translocation-mediated c-myc activation in the pathogenesis of MLCL. Conversely, bcl-2 gene and Epstein-Barr virus do not appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of these peculiar lymphomas. The association between c-myc structural modifications and MLCL also seems to be of relevance in light of the peculiar tendency of this tumor to involve unusual extranodal site (eg, kidney), reminiscent of the spreading attitude of Burkitt's limphomas.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Anatomià Patologica, Università di Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scarpa
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borgato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chilosi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menestrina
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonetti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zamboni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pizzolo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirohashi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fiore-Donati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015342:DNA Probes; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D016259:Genes, myc; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D001761:Bleomycin; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002955:Leucovorin; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate