IgH, TCR-gamma, and TCR-beta gene rearrangement in 80 B- and T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Study of the association between proliferation and the so-called "aberrant" patterns

The current study analyzes the rearrangement pattern of immunoglobulin H (I gH), T-cell receptor (TCR)-gamma, and TCR-beta genes in a group of 80 non-H odgkin's lymphomas (NHL) of different histologic subtypes (43 B-cell and 37 T-cell types). The sensitivity and specificity provided by polymerase chai n reaction amplification of these loci are evaluated. The association betwe en the proliferation index and the presence of the so-called "aberrant" or "dual" rearrangements is also considered. Ninety-one percent of B-celI NHL showed IgH gene monoclonality, and 21% also exhibited a monoclonal pattern in one of the TCR genes. Among T-cell NHL, the sensitivity of the study was 65% for the TCR-gamma gene and 46% for the TCR-P gene. The total sensitivi ty was 76%, amplifying both loci. IgH gene aberrant rearrangements were obs erved in 16% of T-cell neoplasms. A substantial percentage of dual rearrang ements were detected in precursor and mature B- and T-cell NHL. B-cell NHL showed a tendency toward higher values of proliferation when aberrant rearr angements were present; however, this trend was not significant. Furthermor e, in the case of T-cell NHL there was a significant negative association b etween these two variables.