Persistence of circulating t(14;18)-positive cells in long-term remission after radiation therapy for localized-stage follicular lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of circulating t(14;18)-positive cells in patients with long-term remission after radiation therapy for stage I and II follicular lymphoma.


METHODS
Peripheral-blood mononuclear cells from 21 patients in continuous remission were examined by a two-step polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of cells carrying a t(14;18) translocation with a breakpoint within the major breakpoint region (MBR) or minor cluster region (mcr).


RESULTS
Follow-up duration was between 25 and 160 months, with a median of 6.5 years. Thirteen patients (62%) showed negative results on repetitive testing. Cells that were t(14;18)-positive were found in eight patients (38%), all carrying a breakpoint in the MBR. One patient relapsed in each group.


CONCLUSIONS
Circulating t(14;18)-positive cells can persist in a high percentage of follicular lymphoma patients in long-term complete remission (CR) after radiation treatment for stage I and II disease. The significance of minimal residual t(14;18)-positive cells with regard to the risk of relapse needs to be investigated in further prospective long-term studies.
Finke
J
J
Department of Radiotherapy, University of Freiburg, Germany.
Slanina
J
J
Lange
W
W
Dölken
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000502:physiology*; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014178:Translocation, Genetic