To outline further genetic mechanisms of transformation from follicular lymphoma (FL) to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), we have performed whole genome array-CGH in 81 tumors from 60 patients [29 de novo DLBCL (dnDLBCL), 31 transformed DLBCL (tDLBCL), and 21 antecedent FL].
Array-based CGH analysis identified abnormalities that are shared between adult and pediatric DLBCL (+12q15, +19q13, -6q), and abnormalities unique to the pediatric cases (-4p14, -19q13.32, +16p11.2), suggesting distinct pathogenetic mechanisms relative to age.
Our computer algorithm based on array CGH data successfully classified diffuse large B-cell lymphomas and mantle cell lymphomas and activated B-cell and germinal center-B-cell subtypes with high accuracy.
Overall, array-CGH identified relatively small genomic regions associated with outcome, which, along with follow-up expression studies, may reveal target genes important in DLBCL clinical behavior.