Translocations involving the T-cell receptor (TCR) and TCL1 genes occur in T-cell precursor lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma and prolymphocytic leukemia; isochromosome 7q has been associated with hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma.
These studies demonstrate that transcriptional activation of the TCL1 protooncogene can cause malignant transformation of T lymphocytes, indicating the role of TCL1 in the initiation of malignant transformation in T prolymphocytic leukemias and T chronic lymphocytic leukemias.
The TCL1 locus on chromosome 14 band q32.1 is frequently involved in the chromosomal translocations and inversions with the T-cell receptor genes observed in several T-cell tumors, including T-prolymphocytic leukemias, acute and chronic leukemias associated with the immunodeficiency syndrome ataxia-telangiectasia, and adult T-cell leukemia.