DIFFUSE LARGE-CELL, B-CELL TYPE LYMPHOMA WITH A NOVEL TRANSLOCATION (2-22)(P23-Q11.2)

We observed a translocation (2;22)(p23;q11.2) in the bone marrow cells of a patient with multiple subcutaneous nodules. Tumor histology and immunohistochemical staining demonstrated a malignant lymphoma, diffus e large cell type, displaying a CD30 negative B cell immunophenotype. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this specific translocat ion in lymphoma, which may join the site of the anaplastic lymphoma ki nase (ALK) gene at 2p23 to the region of the immunoglobulin lambda lig ht chain gene at 22q11.2. The ALK gene was initially identified throug h its involvement in the t(2;5)(p23;q35) found most commonly in anapla stic large cell lymphoma. This observation in a CD30 negative large ce ll lymphoma of B cell lineage further ex-tends the relationship of ana plastic large cell morphology, ALK activation, lymphoid lineage, and e xpression of the CD30 antigen. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1997.