What chromosomal translocation is associated with follicular lymphomas due to bcl-2 activation?

Follicular lymphomas are closely associated with the chromosomal translocation t(14;18). This specific translocation results in the juxtaposition of the bcl-2 oncogene located on chromosome 18 with the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus on chromosome 14. The heightened transcription of bcl-2 that results from this translocation inhibits normal apoptosis, allowing B cells to survive longer than they should, thus promoting the accumulation of germinal center B cells and leading to the development of the lymphoma.

In the context of lymphomas, the activation of the bcl-2 gene is critical because it fundamentally alters the death regulatory pathways of the affected cells. Consequently, the cells escape the normal processes that would lead to their elimination, diverting them into a malignant pathway characterized by uncontrolled proliferation. This alteration underlines the biology of follicular lymphoma.

Other translocations mentioned involve different genes and pathways. For instance, t(8;14) is primarily associated with Burkitt lymphoma and involves the MYC oncogene, while t(9;22) is linked with chronic myeloid leukemia and Philadelphia chromosome resulting in BCR-ABL fusion. t(2;11) is also associated with different oncogenic processes in other types