The ZytoLight ® SPEC BCL2/CEN 18 Dual Color Probe is designed for the detection of amplifications of the chromosomal region harboring the BCL2 gene. The BCL2 (B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2, a.k.a. PPP1R50) gene is located on chromosome 18q21.33 and encodes an antiapoptosis factor involved in normal B-cell development and differentiation. The expression of BCL2 usually decreases upon B-cell differentiation. However, increased BCL2 expression has been detected in lymphomas harboring the translocation t(14;18) (q32.3;q21.3). Moreover, overexpression of BCL2 can also be caused by amplification of the BCL2 gene as detected in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).
