title: Helicobacter pylori and t(11;18)(q21;q21) translocation in gastric malt lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is clearly associated with Helicobacter pylori gastritis and can be cured with anti- H pylori therapy alone. The presence of t(11;18)(q21;q21) translocation is thought to predict a lower response rate to anti- H pylori treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the presence of t(11;18)(q21;q21) genetic translocation and its clinical impact in low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma Brazilian patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive series of eight patients with gastric MALT lymphoma were submitted to gastroscopy, endoscopic ultrasound, histopathological examination, H pylori search and RT-PCR-based methodology. All patients received anti-H pylori treatment. Eradicated patients were followed-up every 3-6 months for 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients were studied. All patients had tumor involvement restricted to the mucosa or submucosa and seven patients had low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma. All infected patients achieved H pylori eradication. Histological tumor regression was observed in 5/7 (71%) of the low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma patients. The presence of t(11;18)(q21;q21) translocation was found in 4 (57%) of these patients; among them only two had histological tumor regression following H pylori eradication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RT-PCR is a feasible and efficient method to detect t(11;18)(q21;q21) translocation, being carried out in routine molecular biology laboratories. The early detection of such translocation can be very helpful for better targeting the therapy to be applied to gastric MALT lymphoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Karine Sampaio
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Walton
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Vitor Nunes
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Arantes
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas Gerais - FCMMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Drummond-Lage
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Instituto Alfa de Gastroenterologia, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luiz Gonzaga Vaz
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Coelho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002880:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 / Q000235:genetics; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*