Nonimmunoglobulin (non-Ig)/BCL6 gene fusion in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma results in worse prognosis than Ig/BCL6

Chromosomal translocation involving the BCL6 gene affects not only immunogl obulin tig) genes but also a number of non-Ig genes as partners. The molecu lar anatomy of the BCL6 gene rearrangements in 39 cases with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) by long-distance polymerase chain reaction-based as says was determined. The results showed that Ig genes were affected in 21 c ases; non-Ig genes, 15 cases; a deletion of more than a 1-kb segment, 2 cas es; and a point mutation, 1 case. Comparative studies between the 21 cases with Ig gene partners and the 17 cases with non-Ig gene partners, including 2 cases with the deletion, showed that the overall survival of the latter group of patients was significantly inferior to that of the former (P =.044 0), and the estimated 2-year overall survival rates were 58.3% vs 17.6% (P= .005), Non-Ig/BCL6 fusion is a poor prognostic indicator of DLBCL, and DLBC L with SCL6 translocation could be subclassified according to the individua l partner locus and/or gene. (Blood, 2000;96:2907-2909) (C) 2000 by The Ame rican Society of Hematology.