Detection of the T(14;18) Translocation in Follicle Centre Cell Lymphomas in South African Ethnic Groups using PCR

Abstract

PCR was used to detect the t(14;18) translocation in 64 South African cases with follicle centre cell lymphoma. DNA was purified from paraffin-embedded tissue collected from different ethnic groups namely white, black and “mixed” race patients, and primers used to detect both mbr and mcr. The overall incidence of the translocation was 45 %, which is similar to that of Caucasian and Chinese patients. The ratio of rearrangements occumng at the mbr and mcr was 7:l which may be an overestimation. The ratio was three times higher for the “mixed” race group compared to whites, and this suggests that there may be ethnic variation in breakpoints in South African patients.

Key Words:

• South Africa
• t(14;18)
• PCR
• Lymphoma