Molecular heterogeneity of B-lineage diffuse large cell lymphoma

B-lineage diffuse large cell lymphoma (B-DLCL) arising de novo is characterized by a marked degree of clinical heterogeneity. To determine whether or not the clinical heterogeneity of de novo B-DLCL is reflected by heterogeneity in the molecular features of these tumors, we investigated the pattern of distribution of several genetic lesions in 70 cases of de novo B-DLCL at diagnosis. The panel of genetic lesions tested comprised the molecular alterations most frequently detected in B-DLCL, including rearrangements of BCL2, BCL6, and MYC as well as deletions of 6q and mutations of TP53. One or more genetic lesions were detected in 39/70 cases of B-DLCL. Isolated structural alterations of BCL2, BCL6, 6q or TPS3 were detected in 8/70, 10/70, 11/70, and 3/70 cases, respectively. No isolated MYC lesions were detected. Six cases carried different combinations of two genetic lesions, including lesions of BCL2 + BCL6 (1 case), BCL2 + MYC (1 case), BCL2 + 6q (2 cases), or BCL6 + 6q (2 cases). One case had accumulated three genetic lesions, namely a rearrangement of BCL2 and BCL6 and a mutation of TPS3. Overall, these data show that multiple distinct patterns of genetic lesions may associate with de novo B-DLCL, indicating that the molecular pathogenesis of this group of lymphomas is characterized by a high degree of molecular heterogeneity.