Cytogenetics and molecular cytogenetics in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Background: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) accounts for up to 40% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas diagnosed in the western hemisphere. Determination of the gene expression profile has confirmed the physiological heterogeneity of the disease and defined three molecular prognostic subgroups - germinal center B-cell-like (GCB), activated B-cell-like (ABC) and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBL) - with different gene expression and prognosis.

Methods And Results: This review covers current knowledge on the most frequent recurrent cytogenetic and molecular cytogenetic aberrations in molecular DLBCL subgroups.