Specific patterns of chromosomal gains and losses associate with t(3;14), t(8;14), and t(14;18) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogeneous disease. Certain chromosomal translocations are associated with clinical outcome, but it is likely that there are both tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes that cooperate with the primary translocations. We have used the Mitelman database to compare chromosomal losses and gains of DLBCL possessing t(14;18), t(8;14), or t(3;14) with DLBCL lacking any of these translocations. The data we obtained are low resolution, but results for t(3;14) validate the methodology. In accord with the literature, loss of 6q was associated with t(3;14). Chromosomes 11, 13, and X were gained significantly in t(3;14), whereas 8p23 was lost. Cases with t(14;18) were associated with gains of chromosomes 7 and 12; cases with t(8;14) were associated with gains of chromosomes 1 and 4.