An analysis of chromosome findings in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

Banding studies were done on tissues from tumors excised from 22 Japanese patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. All tumors were found to be associated with aneuploidy. The chromosome abnormalities were diverse, with each chromosome type being involved in these abnormalities. Terminal deletions, derivative chromosomes as a result of unbalanced or nonreciprocal translocations, and markers of totally or partially unknown origin accounted for the majority of the structural abnormalities. Balanced reciprocal translocations were seen only occasionally. The 14q+, 6q-, partial trisomy of 1q, 11q+, 18q+, and 19q+ abnormalities were seen in more than two patients. The incidence of a missing sex chromosome was significantly higher than that of autosomes, but no particular other karyotypic abnormality seemed to be associated with the event. All six patients whose chromosomes could be totally characterized were in complete remission. Patients with one or more markers of unknown either totally or partially origin, had a median survival of only 8 months (p less than 0.01). Five of the former six patients showed a nodular histology. Fifteen of the latter 16 patients had a diffuse histology, with 13 of the 15 having diffuse histiocytic lymphoma. The median survival of 9.5 months for the 14 with only abnormal metaphases in the lymphatic tissues (AA-group) was shorter than the 26+ months for the seven patients with both normal and abnormal metaphases (AN-group). Thus certain aspects of chromosomal changes appear to correlate with histology and/or prognosis in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.