GEOGRAPHIC VARIANCE IN THE FREQUENCY OF THE T(14-18) TRANSLOCATION INFOLLICULAR LYMPHOMA - AN ISRAELI SERIES COMPARED TO THE WORLD LITERATURE

It has been suggested that differences in the frequency of the t(14;18 ) translocation in follicular lymphoma might explain ethno-geographic variation in the incidence of these tumors. We tested Israeli follicul ar lymphoma patients for the frequency of the t(14;18) translocation, and reviewed the published literature, comparing the frequency in our series with data From different parts of the world. Tissue specimens f rom 36 Israeli follicular lymphoma patients were tested for presence o f the translocation by PCR amplification of the MBR breakpoint, Twenty -two of the 36 patients (61%) tested positive. A systematic search of the literature yielded 35 papers reporting the frequency of the t(14;1 8) translocation in follicular lymphoma, We analyzed cytogenetic data and molecular data separately. For each method data were pooled from a ll studies within each of three geographical regions - USA, East Asia and Europe, Pooled data from cytogenetic studies show a low frequency of the translocation in the Far East (38%) compared to the USA (71%), with an intermediate frequency found in Europe (61%). Molecular studie s show a similar frequency of the translocation in the Far East and Eu rope, significantly lower than the frequency in pooled data from Ameri can studies, The frequency in our Israeli series is relatively high, c omparable to that detected in the USA. We suggest. that the apparent g eographical differences we describe are unlikely to be caused by a dif ference in the biology of the tumor, and are more likely due to techni cal and methodological factors. We conclude that it is unlikely that d ifferences in the frequency of the t(14;18) translocation explain the difference in the epidemiology of lymphoma between East and West.