Molecular signatures of lymphoma

Hematologic malignancies have historically been characterized by morphologic, immunophenotypic, molecular, and genetic features. However, morphologically identical tumors can have clearly distinct clinical outcomes, suggesting underlying biological heterogeneity. Recent advances in microarray technology have helped the classification of lymphoid malignancies evolve to a new refined level. In addition to the discovery of new disease subclasses defined by unique molecular profiles, gene expression patterns can be correlated with specific genetic abnormalities and prognoses. Furthermore, the discovery of new disease subtypes has provided further insight into lymphoma biology and pathogenesis. Unique gene signatures can highlight key deregulated pathways that are active in molecular disease categories, and in some cases these findings have elucidated new targets for novel therapeutic approaches. This review summarizes the current status of molecular profiling in non-Hodgkin lymphomas. In this review, we have endeavored to include data from multiple investigator groups and tried to cover the breadth of lymphoid tumors, excluding acute and chronic leukemias.