Rare double-hit with two translocations involving IGH both, with BCL2 and BCL3, in a monoclonal B-cell lymphoma/leukemia.

Background: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) is a lymphoproliferative disease characterized by multiple recurring clonal cytogenetic anomalies and is the most common leukemia in adults. Chromosomal abnormalities associated with CLL include trisomy 12 and IGH;BCL3 rearrangement [t(14;19)(q32;q13)] that juxtaposes a proto-oncogenic gene BCL3 and an immunoglobulin heavy chain, a translocation that may be associated with shorter survival. In addition to the IGH;BCL3 rearrangement, other translocations involving 14q32 locus are involved in various lymphoproliferative pathologies pointing toward the significance of IGH locus in oncogenic progression.

Increased epidermal growth factor receptor gene copy number is associated with poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Purpose: High epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene copy number is associated with poor prognosis in lung cancer, but such findings have not been reported for HNSCC. A better understanding of the EGFR pathway may improve the use of EGFR inhibitors in HNSCC.

Patients And Methods: EGFR status was analyzed in 86 tumor samples from 82 HNSCC patients by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) to determine EGFR gene copy number, by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing for activating mutations, and by DNA microarray and immunohistochemistry for RNA and protein expression.