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. 1999 Nov;81(5):860–869. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6690777

Evolution of BCL-2/IgH hybrid gene RNA expression during treatment of T(14;18)-bearing follicular lymphomas

P Soubeyran 1, I Hostein 1, M Debled 2, H Eghbali 2, I Soubeyran 3, F Bonichon 4, T Astier-Gin 5, B Hœrni 2
PMCID: PMC2374283  PMID: 10555759

Abstract

Bcl-2, the gene over-expressed in follicular lymphomas (FL), is able to block chemotherapy-induced apoptosis. Consequently, we wondered whether bcl-2/IgH expression variations during treatment of FL could predict the outcome of patients with t(14;18)-bearing FL. For this purpose, we used a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay to analyse 180 serial peripheral blood samples (PBS) during 34 treatment phases in 25 patients with t(14;18)-bearing FL. In all patients but two, bcl-2/IgH gene expression was demonstrated in pre-treatment samples. During 16 out of the 34 treatment phases (47%), bcl-2/IgH expression became negative: all but one were responders to chemotherapy. This conversion was transient in six cases. In 18 treatment phases, bcl2/IgH expression remained detectable: eight were clinically considered as treatment failures, while eight others achieved PR and two achieved CR. We observed a significant correlation between treatment response and RNA PCR results (P = 0.002). Three-year overall survival of patients with stable bcl2/IgH-negative conversion was 100% compared to 54% for the remaining patients (P = 0.069); 3-year freedom from progression was respectively 87.5% and 13% (P = 0.005). These results indicate a correlation between bcl-2/IgH expression variations and both clinical response and outcome. Whether this might predict disease outcome early remains to be confirmed. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign

Keywords: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, residual disease, t(14;18), bcl-2, chemotherapy

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Selected References

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