Characterization of MYC translocations in multiple myeloma cell lines

Translocations involving an MYC gene (c >> N >>L) are very late tumor progression events and provide a paradigm for secondary translocations in multiple myeloma. Using a combination of fluorescent in situ hybridization and comparative genomic hybridization arrays (aCGH), we have identified rearrangements of an MYC gene in 40 of 43 independent myeloma cell lines. A majority of MYC translocations involve an Ig locus (IgH > Iglambda >> Igkappa), but the breakpoints only infrequently occur near or within switch regions or V(D)J sequences. Surprisingly, about 40% of MYC translocations do not involve an Ig locus. The MYC translocations mostly are nonreciprocal translocations or insertions, often with the involvement of three chromosomes and sometimes with associated duplication, amplification, inversion, and other associated chromosomal abnormalities. High-density aCGH analyses should facilitate the cloning of MYC breakpoints, enabling the determination of their structures and perhaps elucidating how rearrangements not involving an Ig gene cause dysregulation of an MYC gene.