| [ Summary ] |
MALT lymphomas are quite distinct from comparable low-grade B-cell lymphomas of the lymph nodes. They develop by stepwise accumulation of genetic abnormalities. Specific molecular events related to MALT lymphomas have yet not clarified compared in relation to nodal lymphomas, such as bcl-1 and bcl-2 rearrangement in mantle cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma, respectively. Recent investigations presented a variety of chromosomal and molecular abnormalities seen in MALT lymphomas. Among those, trisomy 3 is considered to be an early chromosomal abnormality in the evolution of gastric MALT lymphoma and p16 deletion may be important for its high-grade transformation. In addition, chromosomal translocation of API 2/MLT and bcl-1O, point mutation of p53 and c-myc, and RER phenotypes may be implicated in the evolution of MALT lymphoma. |