Environmental factors may regulate BCL2 associated lymphomagenesis: a very low incidence of BCL2-MBR translocation in Poland.

A characteristic feature of follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (FL) is a chromosome translocation t(14;18)(q32;q21). In American patients the t(14;18) can be found in the large majority (approximately 70%) of FL and in a significant (10-40%) percentage of diffuse large cell lymphomas (DLCL). However there are reports suggesting that geographic or racial factors may regulate genesis of lymphomas with BCL2 abnormalities. Herein we present results of molecular analysis for t(14;18) in lymphomas in Poland. Analyses were performed on 37 cases of FL, 55 cases of diffuse lymphomas (DL) and 39 cases of Hodgkin's disease (HD). By Southern and polymerase chain reaction BCL2 translocation within major breakpoint region was found only in 3 of 37 FL, 1 of 55 DL and 2 of 39 HD. These results are the lowest reported ratio. We hypothesize that environmental factors may regulate BCL2 associated lymphomagenesis.