Molecular features of B-cell lymphoma

Malignant transformation of B cells can occur at various steps of lymphocyt e development, starting from early B-cell progenitors up to mature B cells, which reflects the heterogeneity of B-cell malignancies with regard to the ir biologic and clinical behavior. The genetic characterization of B-cell n eoplasms during the past two decades has elucidated the mechanisms underlyi ng B-cell lymphomagenesis and led to a more precise definition of lymphoma subgroups. This progress is reflected in the upcoming World Health Organiza tion classification for hematologic neoplasms, which stresses the diagnosti c importance of recurrent genetic alterations in leukemias and lymphomas. I n the recent past, several genes deregulated by such recurrent chromosomal aberrations have been identified. In addition, the recent introduction of m icroarray technology has now allowed a more global assessment of gene dysre gulation in B-cell oncogenesis and provided a new means for more exactly de fining the molecular hallmarks of distinct lymphoma subtypes. This review w ill focus on recently described molecular features of B-cell lymphomas disc overed by the application of new molecular cytogenetic techniques, advanced breakpoint cloning strategies, and microarray approaches. Curr Opin Oncol 2001, 13:316-324 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.