Question:medium
Burkitt lymphoma is associated with:
Burkitt lymphoma is associated with:
Show Hint
Which translocation puts MYC on chromosome 8 next to the IgH gene?
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- t(8;14)
- t(11;14)
- t(15;17)
- t(14;18)
Show Solution
The Correct Option is A
Solution and Explanation
The trick with translocation questions is to anchor on the driver gene. For Burkitt lymphoma that gene is MYC, which sits on chromosome 8. Putting MYC under the control of a strongly active immunoglobulin promoter switches it on permanently and drives the very high proliferation that defines this tumour.
The commonest way this happens is a swap between chromosome 8 and chromosome 14, where the immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene lives. That gives t(8;14), the signature of Burkitt lymphoma.
The remaining choices belong to other malignancies. The cyclin D1 rearrangement t(11;14) marks mantle cell lymphoma. The t(15;17) fusion that joins PML and RARA defines acute promyelocytic leukemia. The BCL2 rearrangement t(14;18) is the marker of follicular lymphoma. None of these is the MYC translocation.
So the correct association for Burkitt lymphoma is t(8;14).
\[\boxed{\text{t(8;14) (option A)}}\]
The commonest way this happens is a swap between chromosome 8 and chromosome 14, where the immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene lives. That gives t(8;14), the signature of Burkitt lymphoma.
The remaining choices belong to other malignancies. The cyclin D1 rearrangement t(11;14) marks mantle cell lymphoma. The t(15;17) fusion that joins PML and RARA defines acute promyelocytic leukemia. The BCL2 rearrangement t(14;18) is the marker of follicular lymphoma. None of these is the MYC translocation.
So the correct association for Burkitt lymphoma is t(8;14).
\[\boxed{\text{t(8;14) (option A)}}\]
Was this answer helpful?
0
