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Molecular epidemiology of follicular lymphoma in Chinese: relationship with bcl-2/IgH translocation and bcl-6 397G/C polymorphism

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Abstract

The relative incidence of follicular lymphoma (FL) compared with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLCL) is low in Chinese. This may be due to a lower incidence of t(14;18)-mediated disease, a rapid transformation of FL to DLCL, or a lower incidence of FL-prone genetic polymorphisms (e.g., bcl-6 G397C). Using a conventional and long-distance polymerase chain reaction technique, we showed that 93% (43/46) of Chinese FL cases are t(14;18) related and are molecularly indistinguishable from Caucasian cases. The translocation was uncommonly found in Chinese DLCL cases (8/58, 14%). Furthermore, the incidence of bcl-6 hypermutation in FL and DLCL cases appeared to be comparable. These data do not suggest a high incidence of transformation from FL to DLCL in Chinese. Sequencing study also did not show an increased incidence of G397C polymorphism (heterozygote+homozygotes) in FL compared to a population with Chinese background or DLCL cases (25+5% vs 30+4% vs 22+3%). The reasons for the lower incidence of FL in Chinese remain unanswered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    W. Y. Au, A. Fung & R. Liang

  2. University Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, 4/F, Professorial Block, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, People’s Republic of China

    W. Y. Au

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  1. W. Y. Au
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  2. A. Fung
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  3. R. Liang
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Correspondence to W. Y. Au.

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Au, W.Y., Fung, A. & Liang, R. Molecular epidemiology of follicular lymphoma in Chinese: relationship with bcl-2/IgH translocation and bcl-6 397G/C polymorphism. Ann Hematol 84, 506–509 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-005-1028-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00277-005-1028-2

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