Concurrent chromosomal alterations at 3q27, 8q24 and 18q21 in B-cell lymphomas

Recurrent chromosomal translocations in malignant lymphomas most commonly i nvolve 18q21(bcl-2), 8q24 (c-myc) and 3q27 (bcl-6), with an incidence of 27 %, 11% and 6%, respectively, Individual cases concurrently harbouring two o f these three rearrangements have been previously reported, This report des cribes four patients with cytogenetic alterations affecting all three loci, which was confirmed by molecular analysis in one case. Clinically, each pa tient had aggressive B-cell lymphoma with disseminated disease often involv ing the central nervous system, poor response to chemotherapy and short sur vival, Activation of c-myc in association with deregulation of bcl-2, bcl-6 or both confers high-grade disease with a poor prognosis.