title: Dissecting the gray zone between follicular lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma using morphological and genetic features.
abstract: Nodal marginal zone lymphoma is a poorly defined entity in the World Health Organization classification, based largely on criteria of exclusion and the diagnosis often remains subjective. Follicular lymphoma lacking t(14;18) has similar characteristics which results in a major potential diagnostic overlap which this study aims to dissect. Four subgroups of lymphoma samples (n=56) were analyzed with high-resolution array comparative genome hybridization: nodal marginal zone lymphoma, t(14;18)-negative follicular lymphoma, localized t(14:18)-positive follicular lymphoma and disseminated t(14;18)-positive follicular lymphoma. Gains on chromosomes 7, 8 and 12 were observed in all subgroups. The mean number of aberrations was higher in disseminated t(14;18)-positive follicular lymphoma than in localized t(14:18)-positive follicular lymphoma (P<0.01) and the majority of alterations in localized t(14:18)-positive follicular lymphoma were also found in disseminated t(14;18)-positive follicular lymphoma. Nodal marginal zone lymphoma was marked by 3q gains with amplifications of four genes. A different overall pattern of aberrations was seen in t(14;18)-negative follicular lymphoma compared to t(14;18)-positive follicular lymphoma. t(14;18)-negative follicular lymphoma is characterized by specific (focal) gains on chromosome 3, as observed in nodal marginal zone lymphoma. Our results support the notion that localized t(14:18)-positive follicular lymphoma represents an early phase of disseminated t(14;18)-positive follicular lymphoma. t(14;18)-negative follicular lymphoma bears aberrations that are more like those in nodal marginal zone lymphoma, suggesting a relation between these groups.
authors.affiliation: Daphne.dejong@vumc.nl.
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Krijgsman
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Olga Balagué
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Ponz
authors.forename: Margaretha G M
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Roemer
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Slot
authors.forename: Annegien
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Broeks
authors.forename: Linde
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Braaf
authors.forename: Ron M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kerkhoven
authors.forename: Freek
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bot
authors.forename: Krijn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: van Groningen
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beijert
authors.forename: Bauke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ylstra
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Jong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged