[Detection of bcl-2/JH fusion gene in patients with B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by polymerase chain reaction and its clinical implication].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the frequency and clinical implication of bcl-2/JH gene rearrangement in B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas(B-NHLs).

METHODS

Major breakpoint region (MBR) and minor cluster region(mcr) of bcl-2 rearrangement were amplified by polymerase chain reaction in fresh tumor tissue, bone marrow and peripheral blood samples from 23 cases of B-NHL.

RESULTS

Translocation breakpoint was revealed in 10 fresh tumor tissue (71.4% of follicular NHL, 31.3% of diffuse NHL), 8 bone marrow and 7 peripheral blood specimens. The MBR was involved in most of the cases, while the mcr only in one. In addition, of 18 patients with normal bone marrow morphology, 4 were PCR positive, including 2 in early stage ( I and II). Untreated patients with bcl-2 gene rearrangement obtained lower complete remission rate than those without the rearrangement.

CONCLUSION

Detection of bcl-2/JH fusion gene was helpful in diagnosing and staging lymphomas, selecting treatment protocols, and monitoring minimal residual diseases.