Isolated MYC cytogenetic abnormalities in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma do not predict an adverse clinical outcome

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the significance of MYC, BCL2 and BCL6 gene abnormalities in a cohort of 205 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients studied by conventional and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization cytogenetic analysis. Combining these methods, 172 cases (84%) were classified as MYC−, 17 (8%) were MYC+/BCL2−/BCL6−, and 16 (8%) were double/triple-hit lymphomas (i.e. MYC+/BCL2+, MYC+/BCL6+, or MYC+/BCL2+/BCL6+). We found a significant difference in event-free survival (EFS) among the three groups (p = 0.02), with the double/triple-hit group having the worst EFS. Patients who were MYC+, but BCL2− and BCL6−, had the best EFS. We conclude that patients with MYC+ DLBCL, but without BCL2 or BCL6 abnormalities, do not have a worse outcome when compared to those who are MYC−. However, patients with double/triple-hit DLBCL have a very poor outcome and should be treated with aggressive or novel therapies.

Keywords::

• Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
• MYC
• BCL2
• BCL6

Potential conflict of interest

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Supplementary material available online

Supplementary Table I listing treatment regimens.