Cytogenetic analysis in mantle cell lymphoma: a review of 214 cases

Cytogenetic (CG) analysis was performed in 78 consecutive cases of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) at the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA). A clone containing a t(11;14) translocation was identified in 53 cases. Data from 47 cases with sufficient CG details were reviewed along with 167 cases of t(11; 14)-associated lymphoproliferative diseases (LPD) from the literature. Common aneuploidies included -Y, -13, -9, -18, +3 and +12. Common structural changes included: +3q, +12q, del(6q), del(1p), del(13q), del(10q), del(11q), del(9p) and del(17p). The commonest breakpoints clusters were 1p21-22, 1p31-32, 1q21, 6q11-q15, 6q23-25, 8q24, 9p21-24, 11q13-23, 13q12-14, and 17p12-13. When analyzed separately as lymph node-based disease (LN group) and peripheral blood disease (PB group), deletions and chromosomal losses were more common in the LN group, while gains of chromosome segments 3q and 12q were similar. The LN group was cytogenetically more complex. CG analysis is useful for confirming the diagnosis of MCL. Almost all cases will have t(11; 14), but poor quality and number of metaphases may render a difficult analysis. CG evolution in MCL follows a complex but defined pattern. Regions affected by recurrent changes are similar to other B cell lymphomas. The LN and PB groups of t(11;14)-associated LPD may have subtle differences in clonal evolution.