Translocation t(2;5) is not a primary event in Hodgkin's disease. Simultaneous immunophenotyping and interphase cytogenetics.

A number of neoplastic disorders are characterized by recurrent chromosome aberrations. One of these is the translocation t(2;5), which is found in a considerable percentage of large-cell anaplastic lymphomas. This translocation results in the fusion of two genes, alk and npm. The recent discovery of alk/npm mRNA in 11 of 13 cases of Hodgkin's disease has caused a controversial discussion concerning the question of whether t(2;5) is also present in Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells. We tackled this problem on the molecular cytogenetic level by combined CD30 immunophenotyping and interphase cytogenetics. Using a pair of DNA probes flanking both sides of the npm gene breakpoint at 5q35 we were able to prove, at least in 12 of 13 cases of Hodgkin's disease, that all CD30-positive Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells lacked the translocation t(2;5). Fifteen to forty-five Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells were analyzed per case (mean, 27). Our findings indicate that this translocation is not a primary event in the development of Hodgkin's disease.