Genetic Changes in Diffuse Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Genetic Changes in Diffuse Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
RATIONALE: Determination of genetic markers for aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma may help identify patients with this disease and help predict the outcome of treatment.
PURPOSE: Diagnostic study to determine the genetic markers in patients who have aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.
Tissue samples are obtained before treatment and at the time of documentation of refractory disease in patients who do not achieve complete remission after induction therapy or at the time of first relapse in patients who achieve a complete remission.
Samples are examined for rearrangements in the MYC, BCL2, BCL6, and IGH genes using fluorescent in situ hybridization. DNA is examined by comparative genomic hybridization, which allows cytogenetic detection of losses and gains of chromosomal regions in tumor cells.
Patients do not receive the results of the genetic testing and the results do not influence the type or duration of treatment.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
Histologically proven aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and registered to front-line CALGB protocols (e.g, CLB-59903, 59909, 10002, and 50103)
Previously entered on similar curative CALGB protocols (CLB-8852, CLB-8854, and CLB-9351) with blocks or unstained slides of initial diagnosis available
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
Age:
Washington D.C., District of Columbia 20007, United States
Washington D.C., District of Columbia 20422, United States
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46885-5099, United States
Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
Saint Joseph, Michigan 49085, United States
Columbia, Missouri 65203, United States
Omaha, Nebraska 68198-7680, United States
Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756-0002, United States
Camden, New Jersey 08103, United States
East Syracuse, New York 13057, United States
Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7295, United States
Pinehurst, North Carolina 28374, United States
Wilmington, North Carolina 28402-9025, United States
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157-1082, United States
Columbus, Ohio 43210-1240, United States
Roanoke, Virginia 24014, United States