OBJECTIVETo explore the cytogenetic features of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

METHODSBone marrow cells from 18 MCL patients with bone marrow invasion were cultured for 24 hours, then routine karyotype analysis was performed with R-banding technique. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and a panel of 5 probes, including CCND1/IgH, CEP12, D13S319, p53 gene and ATM gene, were used to investigate the cytogenetic features of the samples.

RESULTSChromosome aberrations were found in 9 (64.3%, 9/14) patients by conventional cytogenetics (CC), 8(57.1%, 8/14) patients had the aberration of t(11; 14), 6(42.9%, 6/14) had complex aberrant karyotypes, of which 2 (14.3%, 2/14) had highly complex aberrant karyotypes. A total of 28 abnormalities were detected, among them 19 (67.9%) were structural abnormalities, the other 9 (32.1%) were numerical aberrations. The aberration of t(11; 14) was found in all 18 (100%) patients with MCL by FISH. Secondary cytogenetic aberrations were detected in 14 patients by FISH. The most common abnormality was del(11q22.3) (57.1%), the rate of aberrations for del(17p13), + 12 and del(13q14) were 42.9%, 35.7% and 21.4%, respectively. Two (14.3%) and 4 (28.6%) patients were detected to have combinations of 2 and 3 aberrations.

CONCLUSIONIn addition to t(11; 14), most MCL patients have other chromosome aberrations, especially complex aberrant karyotype.