The clinical relevance of t(14;18)/BCL-2 rearrangement and DEL 6q in diffuse large cell lymphoma and immunoblastic lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: t(14;18)/bcl-2 gene rearrangement (R) is claimed to impart a worse rate of complete remission and disease-free survival in diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL). DEL 6q has also been associated with poor outcome.

DESIGN: Retrospective study of 54 patients with either diffuse large cell or immunoblastic lymphoma who had cytogenetics and/or molecular studies performed.

RESULTS: Patient characteristics, complete remission rate, and time to treatment failure (TTF) were similar at three year follow-up for groups with and without t(14;18)/BCL-2R. Survival was worse for the former but the difference was not statistically significant. For DEL 6q, patient characteristics and survival rates were similar at three year follow-up for patients with and without the abnormality. TTF was worse for the former but this was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION: This study, with equal or greater number of patients with t(14;18) than previous reports, fails to show a worse prognosis for patients with the t(14;18) chromosomal abnormality. A definite association will await further accrual of patients and a meaningful multivariate analysis.