The pathogenesis of MALT lymphomas: where do we stand?

Leukemia. 2007 Mar;21(3):389-96. doi: 10.1038/sj.leu.2404517. Epub 2007 Jan 18.

Abstract

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a heterogeneous form of a B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with extranodal location. The gastrointestinal tract is the most common site of disease, but involvement of multiple other organ systems has been documented. Four translocations, t(11;18)(q21;q21), t(1;14)(p22;q32), t(14;18)(q32;q21) and t(3;14)(p13;q32), are specifically associated with MALT lymphoma. Remarkably, the genes targeted by at least three of these translocations are involved in one and the same pathway, leading to the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). This review presents MALT lymphoma as a model of how sustained inflammation increases the risk of genotoxic insults and how these genetic events initiate oncogenesis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / immunology
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • B-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • Caspases / genetics
  • Caspases / physiology
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / ultrastructure
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 / ultrastructure
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 / ultrastructure
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 / ultrastructure
  • Chronic Disease
  • Gastritis / complications
  • Gastritis / drug therapy
  • Gastritis / immunology
  • Gastritis / microbiology
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / etiology
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / microbiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, Immunoglobulin
  • Helicobacter Infections / complications
  • Helicobacter Infections / drug therapy
  • Helicobacter Infections / immunology
  • Helicobacter pylori / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / genetics
  • Inflammation / complications
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / drug therapy
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / etiology*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / genetics
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / immunology
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / microbiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation 1 Protein
  • NF-kappa B / physiology
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / physiology
  • Translocation, Genetic

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Autoantigens
  • Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains
  • NF-kappa B
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Caspases
  • MALT1 protein, human
  • Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue Lymphoma Translocation 1 Protein