title: Chromosomal abnormalities in untreated patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: associations with histology, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcome. The Nebraska Lymphoma Study Group.
abstract: We describe the chromosomal abnormalities found in 104 previously untreated patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and the correlations of these abnormalities with disease characteristics. The cytogenetic method used was a 24- to 48-hour culture, followed by G-banding. Several significant associations were discovered. A trisomy 3 was correlated with high-grade NHL. In the patients with an immunoblastic NHL, an abnormal chromosome no. 3 or 6 was found significantly more frequently. As previously described, a t(14;18) was significantly correlated with a follicular growth pattern. Abnormalities on chromosome no. 17 were correlated with a diffuse histology and a shorter survival. A shorter survival was also correlated with a +5, +6, +18, all abnormalities on chromosome no. 5, or involvement of breakpoint 14q11-12. In a multivariate analysis, these chromosomal abnormalities appeared to be independent prognostic factors and correlated with survival more strongly than any traditional prognostic variable. Patients with a t(11;14)(q13;q32) had an elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Skin infiltration was correlated with abnormalities on 2p. Abnormalities involving breakpoints 6q11-16 were correlated with B symptoms. Patients with abnormalities involving breakpoints 3q21-25 and 13q21-24 had more frequent bulky disease. The correlations of certain clinical findings with specific chromosomal abnormalities might help unveil the pathogenetic mechanisms of NHL and tailor treatment regimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Schouten
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Sanger
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Weisenburger
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Armitage
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis