| [ Summary ] |
In the study of immunohistochemical expression of bcl-2 and p53 using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded surgical specimens of MALT lymphoma, the rate of bcl-2 expression decreased as malignant potential progressed, while that of p53 showed the opposite trend and increased. Furthermore, on PCR-based analysis of biopsy specimens in our study of patients in whom H.pylori had been eradicated, the monoclonal pattern of immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement was converted to a polyclonal pattern after H.pylori eradication of which the rate was 40% (4/10). In particular, 80% of the patients with complete healing showed conversion to the polyclonal pattern. These results suggest that genetic information contributes to making the differential diagnosis between benign gastritis and gastric low-grade MALT lymphoma, as well as to assessing the most appropriate clinical management for patients after H.pylori eradication. |