Myelin and lymphocyte (MAL) protein has been previously reported as a highly specific marker for distinguishing primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBL) from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (DLBCL, NOS).
Because MAL protein is located in detergent-insoluble glycolipid-enriched membrane (GEM) domains involved in lymphocyte signal transduction, abnormal expression of MAL protein in the B-lymphoid lineage may have significant implications in PMBL lymphomagenesis.