LARGE-CELL ANAPLASTIC LYMPHOMA-SPECIFIC TRANSLOCATION (T[2-5] [P23-Q35]) IN HODGKINS-DISEASE - INDICATION OF A COMMON PATHOGENESIS

Chromosomal aberrations are characteristic and specific events; the de tection of chromosomal abnormalities often provides information on dia gnosis and prognosis of disease. Some patients with large-cell anaplas tic lymphoma (Ki 1 lymphoma) have the translocation t(2;5) (p23; q35), involving a possible growth-regulating tyrosine kinase. We found this translocation in 11 patients with Hodgkin's disease of nodular sclero sis and mixed-cellularity types. This finding has implications for the understanding of the relation between large-cell anaplastic lymphoma and Hodgkin's disease, diseases with morphological and immunophenotypi cal similarities. Study of this translocation may help understanding o f the origins of cancer and cancer growth. It also allows a more preci se definition of Hodgkin's disease and may be used as an indicator for clonality-which has long been sought.