Objective To investigate BCL-6 gene mutations in Chinese populations with B
-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Methods Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), denaturing gradient gel electropho
resis (DGGE) and direct DNA sequencing were used to identify mutations in t
he 5' noncoding region of the BCL-6 gene in a total of 40 cases of diffuse
large-cell lymphoma (DLCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL).
Results Nine cases were found to have base substitutions. The incidence of
BCL-6 gene mutation and the frequency of single-base changes were approxima
tely 25.7% and (0.56 - 1.10) x 10(-2)/bp, respectively.
Conclusions The 5' regulatory region of the BCL-6 gene undergoes frequent s
omatic hypermutation during lymphomagenesis and the identification of BCL-6
gene hypermutations provides a molecular marker for confirmatory diagnosis
of B-NHL.