Lymphomas with testicular localisation show a consistent BCL-2 expression without a translocation (14;18): a molecular and immunohistochemical study

The presence of the BCL-2 protein was studied in nine non-Hodgkin's lymphomas with testicular localisation. A consistent presence of the BCL-2 protein was found. The chromosomal translocation (14;18) was seen neither by cytogenetic analysis (n = 4) nor by polymerase chain reaction amplification and Southern blotting (n = 9). Therefore, this translocation is not responsible for the presence of the BCL-2 protein in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas with testicular localisation. We suggest that the presence of the BCL-2 protein in these lymphomas is related to the differentiation stage of the B-lymphocytes or may play a role in the pathogenesis of these lymphomas. The consistent finding of the BCL-2 protein in lymphomas with testicular localisation may support the clinical observation that these lymphomas are a separate entity.