CLINICAL AND BIOLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION OF T-CELL NEOPLASIAS WITH REARRANGEMENTS OF CHROMOSOME-7 BAND Q34

  • 1 February 1988
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 71  (2) , 395-402
Abstract
In T cell malignancy, rearrangements of chromosome 14 have been observed with a break in the band that contains the .alpha. chain gene for the T cell receptor (TCR). Because the .beta. chain TCR gene is in chromosome band 7q34, we searched for and report finding specific rearrangements of 7q34 exclusively in T cell malignancies. The rearrangements were reciprocal translocations between 7q34 and other points: 1p34, 9q32, 9q34, 15q22, and 19p13. The malignancies containing a 7q34 translocation were either T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias or T cell lymphoblastic lymphomas that had similarities in clinical, enzyme, immunologic, and cellular characteristics. Hybridization using a probe to the .beta.-TCR gene disclosed unique rearrangements consistent with clonality in every case. A common pattern with chromosome breakpoints involving TCR genes may be emerging in T cell neoplasia.