Recent advances in aetiology and molecular genetics of MALT lymphoma

Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT} lymphoma is a low grade B-cell lymphoma arising from MALT of extra-nodal. A link of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection with gastric MALT lymphoma was confirmed in the early years. Currently, growing evidence indicates that development of non-gastric MALT lymphoma is also associated with infections by microbial pathogens. t(l1;18)(q21;q21)、t(l;14)(p22;q32) and t (14;18)(q32;q21) are specifically associated with MALT lymphoma, which occur at variable incidences in MALT lymphoma of different sites. The oncogenic activity of these three chromosome translocations is linked by antigen receptor-mediated NF-κB activation.In addition, a number of novel genetic abnormalities have been recently identified in MALT lymphoma. The findings of these microbial pathogens and molecular genetics would be helpful in better understanding the pathogenesis of MALT lymphoma and also useful for the diagnosis at early stage and proper treatments of MALT lymphoma. Key words: Lymphoma, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue;  Genes;  Chromosomes;  Molecular biology