Molecular heterogeneity of sporadic adult Burkitt-type leukemia/lymphoma as revealed by PCR and cytogenetics: correlation with morphology, immunology and clinical features.
Chromosomal translocations involving the MYC oncogene are a hallmark of Burkitt lymphoma but they are only found in a varying frequency in mature Burkitt-type acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). We have investigated samples of 56 sporadic Burkitt leukemia/lymphoma patients for the translocations t(8;14)(q24;q32), t(2;8)(p11;q24) and t(8;22)(q24;q11). Long PCR was used for detecting the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) translocation and cytogenetics and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization for detecting the 'variant' MYC translocations. A total of 29 samples (51.8%) were t(8;14)-positive by long PCR. Approximately one-third had a chromosomal breakpoint in the IgH joining region while the others had breakpoints in the IgH switch regions. Among them were two cases with a previously unreported MYC translocation into the IgE switch region. Long PCR was more reliable compared to conventional cytogenetics for detecting the t(8;14). Epstein-Barr virus was detected in high copy number in two (3.6%) t(8;14)-positive cases by real-time quantitative PCR. Human herpesvirus 8 was not detected in any case by nested PCR. A typical L3 or L3-compatible cytomorphology was highly predictive (>80%) but not specific of a MYC translocation. A total of 34 patients were treated according to the GMALL B-ALL therapy protocols and there was no significant difference in overall survival between patients with or without t(8;14).
Burmeister
T
T
Charité, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Medizinische Klinik III, Berlin, Germany. thomas.burmeister@charite.de
Schwartz
S
S
Horst
H-A
HA
Rieder
H
H
Gökbuget
N
N
Hoelzer
D
D
Thiel
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D005260:Female; D016259:Genes, myc; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015996:Survival Rate; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains