Burkitt Lymphoma - Subtypes, Pathogenesis, and Treatment Strategies

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is a rare and highly aggressive Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with a germinal center phenotype, a nearly universal myc oncogene translocation to an enhancer element and a proliferation index greater than 95%.¹ Bcl-2 is not expressed as opposed to double-hit or triple-hit lymphoma. Genetic mutations and aberrancy involving the phosphatidylcholine 3-kinase and cyclin-dependent kinase pathways are also involved.^2-5 Rarely patients present with stage I disease and others are considered as high risk if greater than stage I or with elevated LDH or masses greater than 10 cm.