t(11;18) Is a marker for All Stage Gastric MALT Lymphomas That Will Not Respond o H. Pylori Eradication

Reviewer: William Levin, MD
The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Last Modified: December 10, 2001

Presenter: H. Liu
Presenter's Affiliation: Universiy College London
Type of Session: Scientific

Background

Eradication of H. Pylori infection leads to complete regression of gastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)lymphoma in greater than 70% of cases.

The translocation t(11;18) is the sole chromosomal abberation in gastric MALT lymphoma.

This translocation is present in up to 50% of gastric MALT lymphomas and appears to represent more aggressive disease.

A pilot study found that response to anti-H. pylori therapy was poor in patients with t(11;18) positive gastric lymphomas.

The current study seeks to investigate this issue in a larger cohort.

Materials and Methods

111 patients with H. pylori positive gastric MALT lymphoma were treated with anti-H. pylori antibiotic therapy.

Clinical staging was performed prior to therapy.

The response of lymphoma to H. pylori therapy was determined by repeat endoscopy and biopsy.

Tissue samples were evaluated using reverse transcriptace polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results

t(11;18) was detected in 2 of the 48 pts who achieved a complete response and these two pts relapsed in the absence of H. pylori reinfection.

In contrast, the translocation was present in 67%(26 of 43) non-responders.

Author's Conclusions

t(11;18) positive gastric MALT lymphomas do not respond to standard H. pylori therapy.

Clinical/Scientific Implications
While this is a single, small study, the results suggest that patients with this genetic abnormalty may be better treated with other forms of therapy.

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