title: C-MYC translocation in t(14;18) positive follicular lymphoma at presentation: An adverse prognostic indicator?
abstract: Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a common subtype of low grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Although this form of lymphoma often pursues an indolent course, in some cases it may behave in a more aggressive manner. Clinical and histological parameters have been shown to correlate with an adverse prognosis but a number of cytogenetic abnormalities may also be associated with aggressive disease. Although, the t(14;18) in itself does not affect outcome in cases of FL, secondary abnormalities that occur in a complex polyploid karyotype may identify cases with a poor prognosis. It is unusual to find both t(14;18) and C-MYC translocation in the same tumour; those cases in which it has been described include examples of high-grade B-cell NHL (either de novo or transformed FL) or B-cell acute lymphoblastic lymphoma. In this report, three cases of FL are described in which both t(14;18) and a C-MYC translocation were identified at presentation. We also summarize four further cases from the literature. This is a small series but one which raises the possibility that the presence of a C-MYC translocations at presentation may identify a particularly aggressive subtype of FL. Further studies are required to investigate the true incidence of this aberration, the impact on C-MYC regulation, clinical course and response to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Neuroscience, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kernohan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levison
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gillespie
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Batstone
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meiklejohn
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goodlad
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics*; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc