title: [Prevalence of API2-MALT1 fusion gene in gastrointestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas and diffuse large B cell lymphomas].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the difference of the prevalence of t(11;18)(q21;q21)/API2-MALT1 fusion gene between gastrointestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma and diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 57 cases gastrointestinal MALT lymphomas (38 gastric and 19 intestinal lymphomas), 32 DLBCL (28 gastric and 4 intestinal lymphomas) and 7 cases gastric DLBCL accompanied MALT lymphoma were collected from the Cancer Hospital of Fudan University. API2-MALT1 fusion gene was detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using both dual fusion translocation and break apart probes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among gastrointestinal MALT lymphomas, API2-MALT1 fusion gene was found in 12 of 57 cases (21.1%, 10 gastric and 2 intestinal lymphomas). In contrast, the fusion gene was not found in all 32 DLBCL and 7 gastric DLBCL with MALT lymphoma component. There was statistical significant difference between two groups (chi(2) = 9.383, P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  API2-MALT1 fusion gene is a distinctive genetic aberration in MALT lymphomas, and is not present in DLBCL. The findings suggest that gastrointestinal tract MALT lymphomas with API2-MALT1 fusion gene may not transform into DLBCL, which may represent primary lymphoma or transformed API2-MALT1 negative MALT lymphomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Bai-zhou
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong-fen
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Wei-qi
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Da-ren
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D002880:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: C415943:API2-MALT1 fusion protein, human; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion