Burkitt lymphoma carries a translocation involving MYC. Which of the following correctly pairs the translocation with its immunoglobulin partner and the resulting molecular event?
- A t(8;14); MYC juxtaposed to IgH enhancer → constitutive MYC overexpression driving rapid cell cycle entry ✓
- B t(8;22); MYC juxtaposed to IgH enhancer → BCL-2 overexpression
- C t(8;14); MYC juxtaposed to IgG constant region → impaired apoptosis
- D t(14;18); BCL-2 juxtaposed to IgH enhancer → inhibited cell cycle arrest
Explanation
In Burkitt lymphoma, the most common translocation t(8;14) places the MYC proto-oncogene on chromosome 8 under control of the potent IgH enhancer on chromosome 14, leading to constitutive MYC overexpression. MYC is a transcription factor that drives expression of genes promoting cell cycle progression (G1→S), ribosome biogenesis, and metabolic reprogramming, resulting in the extremely high proliferation index (Ki-67 ~100%). Variant translocations t(2;8) and t(8;22) involve the Igκ and Igλ loci, respectively. t(14;18) is the hallmark of follicular lymphoma involving BCL-2.
Reference: Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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