title: Somatic point mutations in the translocated bcl-2 genes of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and lymphocytic leukemias: implications for mechanisms of tumor progression.
abstract: The t[14;18] chromosomal translocation is the most common cytogenetic abnormality found in hematolymphoid malignancies. The t[14;18] fuses the bcl-2 gene at 18q21 with the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus at 14q32, resulting in deregulated expression of bcl-2 and production of high levels of its encoded 26-kD protein in the majority of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Recent data indicate that somatic point mutations frequently occur in translocated bcl-2 alleles, possibly because of the somatic hypermutation mechanism that is associated with the immunoglobulin gene loci and that normally contributes to antibody diversity. In some cases, these mutations can affect the open reading frame of the bcl-2 gene and thereby alter Bcl-2 proteins. Here, we review the currently available data about the incidence, biological effects, and possible clinical importance of somatic mutations within the translocated bcl-2 genes of human lymphomas and leukemias.
authors.affiliation: La Jolla Cancer Research Foundation, Cancer Research Center, CA 92037.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D017354:Point Mutation; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2