Diagnostic Study of Patients With Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

OBJECTIVES:

- Estimate the proportions of patients with diffuse aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who
have rearrangements affecting the MYC, BCL2, and BCL6 genes (determined by fluorescent
in situ hybridization), overtly amplified chromosomal regions, and nonrandom copy
number changes of chromosomal regions (determined by comparative genomic
hybridization).

- Investigate the prognostic importance of these genetic markers by studying their
relationships with clinical outcomes (e.g., response to therapy, failure-free survival,
and overall survival) in these patients.

- Investigate the interrelationships among these genetic and biological markers and their
relationships with clinical features of the disease, such as disease site (nodal vs
extranodal) and stage, in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

Tissue samples are obtained before treatment and at the time of documentation of refractory
disease in patients who do not achieve complete remission after induction therapy or at the
time of first relapse in patients who achieve a complete remission.

Samples are examined for rearrangements in the MYC, BCL2, BCL6, and IGH genes using
fluorescent in situ hybridization. DNA is examined by comparative genomic hybridization,
which allows cytogenetic detection of losses and gains of chromosomal regions in tumor
cells.

Patients do not receive the results of the genetic testing and the results do not influence
the type or duration of treatment.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically proven aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and registered to front-line
CALGB protocols (e.g, CLB-59903, 59909, 10002, and 50103)

- Diffuse small cleaved cell lymphoma

- Diffuse mixed small and large cell lymphoma

- Diffuse large cell lymphoma

- Diffuse large cell immunoblastic lymphoma

- Small noncleaved cell lymphoma

- Mantle cell lymphoma OR

- Previously entered on similar curative CALGB protocols (CLB-8852, CLB-8854, and
CLB-9351) with blocks or unstained slides of initial diagnosis available

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

- 18 years and older