Frequent association of t(3;14) or variant with other lymphoma-specific translocations.
Malignant lymphomas (ML) with t(3;14) or variant t(2;3) and t(3;22) have recently been recognized. These translocations have been shown to associate predominantly with B-cell diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL) and less frequently with follicular lymphoma (FL). The molecular alterations associated with these translocations involve one of the immunoglobulin gene (Ig) loci and a recently cloned gene, bcl-6 located at 3q27 which codes for a zinc-finger protein that may function as a transcription factor. We have identified by cytogenetic analysis 22 cases of ML with a 3q27/Ig translocation. The pathologic diagnoses of these cases include DLCL, FL, small non-cleaved non-Burkitt lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Molecular analysis confirmed a bcl-6 rearrangement in 10/12 cases tested. The karyotype in 5/22 cases revealed the t(3;14) or variant in association with another lymphoma-specific translocation, t(14;18) in three cases and t(8;14) in two cases. ML with dual translocations that implicate Ig genes in the deregulation of proto-oncogenes are being increasingly recognized and may represent distinct subtypes or 'hybrid' forms of malignant lymphoma.
Horsman
D E
DE
Division of Laboratory Medicine, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada.
McNeil
B K
BK
Anderson
M
M
Shenkier
T
T
Gascoyne
R D
RD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D002893:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007621:Karyotyping; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051560:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; D014157:Transcription Factors