| Research Abstract |
Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type constitutes a distinct disease entity. However, its molecular pathogenesis has remained to be elucidaeted. Recently we studied genetic alteration on t(11;18) chromosomal translocation sometimes found on MALT lymphoma, and have identified a novel gene, termed as MALT1 by us, on chromosome 18. Subsequently, we reported that an API2-MALT1 chimeric transcript was mediated by this chromosomal translocation. We further developed the detection system of API2-MALT1 chimeric transcript on the PCR method, and applied the clinisopthologic study of gastric MALT lymphoma. We succeeded to demonstrate that gastric API2-MALT1 chimeric transcript-positive MALT lymphoma generally features unresponsiveness to antibacterial treatment and that this lymphoma is thought to be unrelated to H.pylori infection in its pathogenesis. Further investigation is needed for clarifying the pathogenesis of MALT lymphoma.
|
