BCL-2 REARRANGEMENT IN HODGKINS-DISEASE AND REACTIVE LYMPH-NODES

The chromosomal translocation t(14;18)(q32;q21), which involves the Bc l-2 oncogene, occurs in most follicular lymphomas. Recent evidence sug gests that this translocation occurs in Hodgkin's disease, linking its cellular origin and oncogenesis to follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphomas . Using polymerase chain reaction, the authors examined both Hodgkin's disease (n = 60) and reactive lymph nodes (n = 34) for the presence o f bcl-2/JH breakpoint fragments, which are indicative of the t(14;18) chromosomal translocation in the major breakpoint region of the bcl-2 gene. The translocation was detected in approximately 10% of both Hodg kin's disease and nonmalignant reactive lymph node cases. These result s suggest the possibility that the translocation may occur in the reac tive component of Hodgkin's disease and not in the putative malignant cells, the Reed-Sternberg cells. Furthermore, the detection of the tra nslocation in reactive lymph nodes suggests that it may not be the pri mary factor in the oncogenesis of follicular lymphoma.