Detection of t(8;14) c-myc/IgH gene rearrangement by long-distance polymerase chain reaction in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

OBJECTIVE/

BACKGROUND

Specific chromosomal translocations are found in human leukemias and lymphomas. These translocations are closely related to particular histological and immunological phenotypes. In Burkitt's lymphoma, translocation t(8;14)(q24;q32), which involves the c-myc gene (8q24) and the immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IgH) locus (14q32), accounts for 90-95% of all chromosomal translocations. This translocation can be found in 2-5% of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Long-distance polymerase chain reaction (LD-PCR) assays, which can identify oncogene/Ig gene rearrangement, can detect these fusion genes. The objective of this study was to detect t(8;14) c-myc/IgH gene rearrangement by LD-PCR in patients with DLBCL.

METHODS

In this study, 54 DLBCL cases were tested by LD-PCR with specific primers. LD-PCR was used for two breakpoints in both the IgH gene (joining region and γ switch region) and the myc gene (Exons 2 and 3).

RESULTS

As much as 1.85% of the samples were positive for the γ constant region and Exon 2 of the myc gene.

CONCLUSION

LD-PCR can be used for the detection of t(8;14) c-myc/IgH gene rearrangement in patients with DLBCL.