What is the translocation associated with follicular lymphoma?

Follicular lymphoma is primarily associated with the chromosomal translocation t(14;18). This genetic alteration involves the relocation of the BCL2 gene from chromosome 18 to chromosome 14, where it is placed next to the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus. This juxtaposition leads to the overexpression of the BCL2 protein, which inhibits apoptosis (programmed cell death) in B lymphocytes, allowing these cells to survive longer than normal. Consequently, this accumulation of B cells can contribute to the development of follicular lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma characterized by a proliferation of these malignant B cells.

In contrast, the other translocations listed are associated with different types of lymphoid neoplasms or leukemias. For example, t(8;14) is typically linked to Burkitt lymphoma, t(9;22) is famously associated with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and t(12;21) is often found in pediatric ALL. Each of these translocations plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of their respective diseases but does not apply to follicular lymphoma specifically.