The t(14;18) defines a unique subset of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with a germinal center B-cell gene expression profile.
Recently we have identified subgroups of de novo primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) based on complementary DNA microarray-generated gene expression profiles. To correlate the gene expression profiles with cytogenetic abnormalities in these DLBCLs, we examined the occurrence of the t(14;18)(q32;q21) in the 2 distinctive subgroups of DLBCL: one with the germinal center B-cell gene expression signature and the other with the activated B cell-like gene expression signature. The t(14;18) was detected in 7 of 35 cases (20%). All 7 t(14;18)-positive cases had a germinal center B-cell gene expression profile, representing 35% of the cases in this subgroup, and 6 of these 7 cases had very similar gene expression profiles. The expression of bcl-2 and bcl-6 proteins was not significantly different between the t(14;18)-positive and -negative cases, whereas CD10 was detected only in the group with the germinal center B-cell expression profile, and CD10 was most frequently expressed in the t(14;18)-positive cases. This study supports the validity of subdividing DLBCL into 2 major subgroups by gene expression profiling, with the t(14;18) being an important event in the pathogenesis of a subset of DLBCL arising from germinal center B cells. CD10 protein expression is useful in identifying cases of DLBCL with a germinal center B-cell gene expression profile and is often expressed in cases with the t(14;18).
Huang
James Z
JZ
Department of Pathology, The Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
Sanger
Warren G
WG
Greiner
Timothy C
TC
Staudt
Louis M
LM
Weisenburger
Dennis D
DD
Pickering
Diane L
DL
Lynch
James C
JC
Armitage
James O
JO
Warnke
Roger A
RA
Alizadeh
Ash A
AA
Lossos
Izidore S
IS
Levy
Ronald
R
Chan
Wing C
WC
D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014178:Translocation, Genetic