Lack of involvement of the c-fms and N-myc genes by chromosomal translocation t(2;5)(p23;q35) common to malignancies with features of so-called malignant histiocytosis.
We report the molecular, cytogenetic, and immunologic characterization of three hematologic malignancies that contained characteristic t(2;5) chromosomal translocations. The clinicopathologic features in all three cases fit the disease spectrum of so-called malignant histiocytosis (MH). All cases expressed activation antigens including Ki-1 (CD 30), but no lineage-restricted pattern of cellular antigen expression was observed. Cell lines SUP-M2 and SU-DHL-1 established from two of the cases showed rearranged beta T-cell receptor (beta TCR) genes nonproductive of full-length beta TCR mRNA and therefore not helpful in unequivocal establishment of lineage derivation. The common cytogenetic feature was a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 2 and 5, involving bands 2p23 and 5q35 near the reported chromosomal locations of the N-myc and c-fms genes, respectively. Normal-sized and truncated c-fms RNAs were observed in both cell lines, whereas no N-myc transcripts were detected. Sequence analysis of the truncated fms RNA showed that it consisted of the 3' half of the c-fms mRNA, but its derivation was not the result of a structural alteration of the c-fms gene. Our studies show that the t(2;5) does not involve the N-myc and c-fms protooncogenes and that this cytogenetic abnormality may be characteristic of a subset of primitive malignancies with an indeterminate lineage but with clinicopathologic features of so-called MH.
Morgan
R
R
Genetics Center of Southwest Biomedical Research Institute, Scottsdale, AZ.
Smith
S D
SD
Hecht
B K
BK
Christy
V
V
Mellentin
J D
JD
Warnke
R
R
Cleary
M L
ML
D000328:Adult; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000032:analysis; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002889:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2; D002895:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5; D005260:Female; D054747:Histiocytic Sarcoma / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009857:Oncogenes; D010641:Phenotype; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta