[Diffuse large cell lymphoma: new molecular approaches]

The term lymphoma comprises a group of neoplasias that develop within the lymphatic system and represent one of the most frequent types of cancer worldwide. During the last decade, significant advances on the molecular biology of lymphoma have been achieved, which have been important not only to understand the etiology of this disease, but also in the development of fast and accurate diagnostic and prognostic methods, which in turn, will allow us to develop appropriate treatments for individual patients. Current systems for the classification of lymphomas have also been influenced by new molecular tools, recently developed. The main goal of this article is to present a general view on the latest advances in the molecular biology of lymphoma. In order to do so, we have focused on Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), one of the most common, and most studied, types of lymphoma. It is noteworthly that most of what we know about DLBCL arises from studies on lymph nodes, and this is reflected in the present review; however, here we have also included recent information regarding cellular and molecular findings in bone marrow from DLBCL patients. These latter observations may be relevant in opening new lines of research in the near future.