Lymphoid Malignancies

Lymphoid cancers are monoclonal. This means that all the cancer cells come from a sinlge, individual, and identical abnormal lymphoid precursor, which can either be a T or B cell. Evidence that points to this are:

1. Light chain restriction patterns in B cells - either kappa or lambda chains are produced by the cancer cell

2. Receptor rearrangements are seen in these cells. For example, if the malignancy is a T cell, then there are T cell receptor gene rearrangements. If it is a B cell, then there are Ig gene rearrangements.

3. There is usually an acquired (non inherited) genetic abnormality.