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Updated: May 20, 2026
15:07
VDJ-Seq: Deep Sequencing Analysis of Rearranged Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain Gene to Reveal Clonal Evolution Patterns of B Cell Lymphoma
Published on: December 28, 2015
Clonal relationship of relapsing lymphoid neoplasms
E C Obermann1, S Dirnhofer, A Tzankov
1Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Histology and Histopathology
|July 6, 2012
Summary
Relapsed lymphomas may not always be a recurrence. Some "relapses" of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) can be new, distinct cancers.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Oncology
- Cancer Genetics
Background:
- Lymphomas are diverse cancers originating from lymphocytes.
- Recurrent lymphomas were traditionally presumed to be relapses of the original clone.
- Recent findings challenge this long-held assumption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review novel insights into the clonal origins of relapsing lymphoid neoplasms.
- To discuss the clinical implications of these findings for lymphoma treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on clonal relationships in relapsing lymphoid malignancies.
- Analysis of data from precursor cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL).
Main Results:
- Approximately 10% of ALL "relapses" are clonally unrelated to the initial disease.
- Metachronous or synchronous NHLs can arise from different clonal origins.
- Evidence suggests some cHL "relapses" may represent new neoplasms of distinct clonal origin.
Conclusions:
- The concept of lymphoma relapse requires re-evaluation.
- Clonally unrelated lymphoid neoplasms mimicking relapses may occur in ALL, NHL, and cHL.
- Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore less aggressive treatment options for distinct secondary malignancies.
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