BCL6 gene amplification/3q27 gain is associated with unique clinicopathological characteristics among follicular lymphoma without BCL2 gene translocation

• DOI: 10.1038/modpathol.2008.75
• Publication Date: 2008-05-23T14:39:54Z
• Authors: Kennosuke Karube; Guo Ying; Hiroyuki Tagawa; Daisuke Niino; Ryosuke Aoki; Yoshizo Kimura; Keiko Hashikawa; Nobuko Suefuji; Yasuo Sugita; Yuko Nomura; Kay Shimizu; Shirou Yoshida; Masao Seto; Koichi Ohshima
• Keywords: Adult; Aged, 80 and over; Gene Rearrangement; Male; 0301 basic medicine; Gene Amplification; DNA, Neoplasm; Middle Aged; Immunohistochemistry; Chromosome Banding; DNA-Binding Proteins; 03 medical and health sciences; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Interferon Regulatory Factors; Biomarkers, Tumor; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6; Humans; Female; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3; Lymphoma, Follicular; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; Aged

Although approximately 10-20% cases of follicular lymphoma lack BCL2 gene rearrangement, there are few reports having described the alternative genetic aberrations and their association about clinicopathological features. In this study, analysis by Fluorescence in situ hybridization of BCL6 gene aberrations in 100 follicular lymphoma cases without IGH/BCL2 rearrangement resulted in the identification of four subgroups. Group I: BCL6 gene rearrangement (n=41); Group II: BCL6 gene amplification/3q27 gain (n=30); Group III: the absence of both (n=23); and Group IV: the presence of both (n=6). Group II showed higher grade morphology (Grade 3a/b: 93%), higher bcl2 and MUM1 expression (73 and 57%, respectively), and more frequent combination with BCL2 gene amplification/18q21 gain (90%) than the other groups. BCL6 gene aberration, especially amplification/3q27 gain, indicates the presence of certain morphological and phenotypical findings in follicular lymphoma cases without IGH/BCL2 rearrangement.