Correlation of t(14;18) translocation breakpoint site with clinical characteristics in follicular lymphoma
Article Category: Research Article
Published Online: Jul 13, 2023
Page range: 487 - 492
Received: Apr 04, 2023
Accepted: May 31, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2023-0030
Keywords
© 2023 Matej Panjan et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Background
t(14;18)(q32;q21) translocation is an important genetic feature of follicular lymphoma resulting in antiapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) protein overexpression. On chromosome 18 breakpoint-site variation is high but does not affect BCL2. Breakpoint most commonly occurs at major breakpoint region (MBR) but may happen at minor cluster region (mcr) and between MBR and mcr at 3′MBR and 5′mcr. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation of t(14;18)(q32;q21) breakpoint site with clinical characteristics in follicular lymphoma.
Patients and methods
We included patients diagnosed with follicular lymphoma who received at least 1 cycle of systemic treatment and had the t(14;18)(q32;q21) translocation detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at MBR, mcr or 3′MBR prior to first treatment. Among patients with different breakpoints, sex, age, disease grade, stage, B-symptoms, follicular lymphoma international prognostic index (FLIPI), presence of bulky disease, progression free survival and overall survival were compared.
Results
Of 84 patients, 63 had breakpoint at MBR, 17 at mcr and 4 at 3′MBR. At diagnosis, the MBR group had a significantly lower disease stage than the mcr group. Although not significant, in the MBR group we found a higher progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), lower grade, age, FLIPI, and less B-symptoms.
Conclusions
Compared to patients with mcr breakpoint, those with MBR breakpoint seem to be characterised by more favourable clinical characteristics. However, a larger study would be required to support our observation.