Rearrangements of the protooncogene MYC (C-MYC) have been consistently found in Burkitt's lymphoma tumor cells. In cases with the common t(8;14) chromosomal translocation, the MYC gene is translocated to chromosome 14 and rearranged with the immunoglobulin heavychain genes; the breakpoint occurs 5' to the MYC gene and may disrupt the gene itself. In Burkitt's lymphoma showing the variant t(2;8) or t(8;22) translocations, the genes coding for the k and l immunoglobulin light chain are translocated to chromosome 8. The rearrangement takes place 3' to the MYC gene. The MYC (8q24) Break probe is optimized to detect rearrangements involving the 8q24 locus in a triple-color, split assay on metaphase/ interphase spreads, blood smears and bone marrow cells.
References:
Fabris et al, 2003, Genes Chromosomes Cancer, 37;261-269.
Hummel et al, 2006, N Engl J Med, 354; 2419-30.