Molecular analysis of the t(14;18) chromosomal translocation in malignant lymphomas.
One of the most common karyotypic abnormalities is the t(14;18) translocation, which is found in many lymphomas that have a characteristic follicular morphology. Recent molecular studies have shown that this chromosomal translocation results in the juxtaposition of the candidate proto-oncogene bcl-2 (B-cell leukemia-lymphoma) on chromosome 18 with the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus on chromosome 14. However, because performing accurate cytogenetic studies in solid hematolymphoid neoplasms is difficult, knowledge of the prevalence of the t(14;18) translocation and, by association, the extent of bcl-2 involvement in human lymphomas is limited. We used a number of chromosome-18 DNA probes to analyze various subtypes of Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and test for structural abnormalities near or within the bcl-2 gene. Molecular features of the t(14;18) translocation were found in virtually all follicular neoplasms and about 28 percent of diffuse large-cell lymphomas. No changes in bcl-2 were found in several other subtypes of Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, including those previously suggested to originate from follicular-center cells and those about which cytogenetic data have been difficult to obtain. Our findings suggest a close pathogenetic relation between bcl-2 and a large group of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, both with and without a follicular morphology. The methods employed in this study may be useful in improving the accuracy of diagnosis and subclassification of malignant lymphomas.
Weiss
L M
LM
Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305.
Warnke
R A
RA
Sklar
J
J
Cleary
M L
ML
D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000235:genetics; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D011519:Proto-Oncogenes; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas