Chin Med J (Taipei) 1998;61:S123.

Molecular Analysis in Malignant Lymphoma

Frank S. Fan, Jin-Hwang Liu, Chueh-Chuan Yen, Wei-Shu Wang, Ruey-Kuen Hsieh, Tzeon-Jye Chiou, Chiau-Jun Chu, Po-Min Chen

Section of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei

Abstract

Background. The classification of malignant lymphoma is extremely complex. Working Formulation, the most popular one, could not predict the actual clinical course of lymphoma. The Revised European and American Lymphoma (REAL) classification, based on the morphological , immunohistochemical and molecular study of lymphoma, is a major progress in lymphoma classification. In this study we try to analyze the clinical significance of genetic change of lymphoma.

Method. We study the gene rearrangement of immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene, T cell receptor beta chain (TCRbeta) gene, bcl-1, bcl-2, bcl-3, bcl-6 and p53 gene in malignant lymphoma by Southern blot analysis or polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We also study the protein expression by immunohistochemistry.

Result. In 84 cases of malignant lymphoma, 55 cases have IgH gene rearrangement, which are classified as B cell lymphoma; and 29 cases have TCRbeta gene rearrangement, which are classified as T cell lymphoma. Among them, three cases were found to have p53 gene rearrangement, six cases were found to have point mutation in p53 gene. In these nine cases with p53 genetic change, four have positive p53 protein staining. Three cases with p53 gene rearrangement and three cases with p53 gene point mutation responded to chemotherapy, but their response duration was short.

Conclusion. Genetic change of p53 gene is a poor prognostic sign of patients with malignant lymphoma. In the presentation we will also discuss the clinical significance of other oncogenes expression in malignant lymphoma.

[Chin Med J (Taipei) 1998;61:S123.]