Detection of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

3 Molecular Detection of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma 

Primary systemic ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (known also as AIKoma) 

Primary systemic ALK-negative anaplastic large cell lymphoma 

In the WHO classification, the primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a distinctive type of lymphoma of T or null phenotype involving skin in the absence of pre-existing lymphomas and is usually ALK-negative. 

More than 40% of all variants of ALCL are associated vdth the reciprocal t(2 5)(p23 q35) translocation, which is associated with more than 80% of pediatric and with one-third of adult ALCL. This translocation found to be the most common cytogenetic abnormality in non-cutaneous form of this lymphoma. Further, but less common chromosomal abnormalities described in association with ALCL are the translocations t(2 3)(p23 q21), t(l 2)(q25 p23), inv.(2)(p23 q35), t(2 13)(p23 q34), t(X 2) (qll-12 p23), t(2 17)(p23 qll) and t(2 19)(p23 pl3). All of these translocations involve the ALK gene on chromosome 2 and seems to have a similar pathophysiological mechanism. 

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