[Historical development and current concepts on B-cell lymphomas of the marginal extraganglionar site of lymphoid tissue associated with MALT lymphoma. A tribute to Dennis H Wright and Peter G Isaacson].

Significant advances in the understanding of marginal zone lymphoma since the first description in 1983 by Peter Isaacson and Dennis Wright have been noted. MALT lymphomas are a subgroup of low-grade B-cell lymphomas that arise from extranodal sites, comprising 7-8% of all B-cell lymphomas and displaying distinct clinicopathological characteristics. MALT lymphomas remain localized in the primary site for long periods of time and seldom disseminate unto other organs. These type of lymphomas infrequently arise in native MALT, but instead arise in MALT acquired in the course of chronic inflammatory disorders, such as Sjögren's syndrome and Helicobacter pylori infection. Eradication of H. pylori produces a clinical regression of the lymphoma in about 75% of cases. The histological hallmarks of MALT lymphoma include neoplastic centrocyte-like B cells, cells resembling monocytoid cells and the presence of lymphoepithelial lesions. The gastrointestinal tract, particularly the stomach, include two-thirds of cases; however MALT lymphomas also occur in other organs such as salivary glands, lung, thyroid, ocular adnexa, breast and skin. Genetic studies have identified three chromosomal translocations specifically associated with MALT lymphomas that include: t(1l:18)(q21;q21), t(1;14)(p22;q32), and t(14;18)(q32;q21). Although these translocations involve different genes, they appear to share a common oncogenic pathway involving NFkappaB.