BCL2-IGH gene fusion is most commonly associated with which type of lymphoma?

The BCL2-IGH gene fusion is particularly associated with follicular lymphoma, which is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This fusion occurs due to a chromosomal translocation, specifically t(14;18), that juxtaposes the BCL2 gene on chromosome 18 to the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus on chromosome 14. The result is the overexpression of the BCL2 protein, an anti-apoptotic factor, which allows cells to evade apoptosis and contributes to the development and progression of the lymphoma.

In follicular lymphoma, this mechanism is a key factor in the pathogenesis of the disease, making it a hallmark genetic alteration of this lymphoma type. Understanding the genetic basis behind various lymphomas is critical for diagnosis, treatment selection, and potential prognostic implications.

While Burkitt lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia are also types of lymphomas or lymphoproliferative disorders, they are characterized by different genetic abnormalities. Burkitt lymphoma is typically associated with MYC gene rearrangements, while chronic lymphocytic leukemia does not usually involve BCL2-IGH fusion but rather is linked to other chromosomal abnormalities. Prostate cancer, on the other hand, is a completely different malignancy and