Novel ORC4L Gene Mutation in B-Cell Lymphoproliferative Disorders

B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders are characterized by marked genetic, morphological, and clinical heterogeneity. The identification of prognostic markers could help to develop risk-adapted treatment strategies. Because proliferation of cells is essential for tumor growth, analysis of the cell cycle might give additional information on tumor progression and clinical behavior. Because initiation of DNA replication represents a significant step in cell division, it is worthwhile to focus the attention to the origin recognition complex (ORC), protein complex essential for initiation of DNA replication. Studies have already shown that ORC-associated factors give a more accurate assessment of cell proliferation than previous markers for many types of malignancies, but so far there have been no studies of eventual role of ORC4L in B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Here, we describe 3 patients with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (2 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 1 with nonsecretory multiple myeloma) carrying a novel A286V mutation within ORC4L gene. All 3 patients were in the advanced stage of disease, but their response to the chemotherapy treatment was good and they achieved complete clinical remission in a relatively short period. Although the functional relevance of this mutation has not yet been elucidated, our observation raises a possibility that A286V mutation, which is constitutively present in these patients, might represent a favorable prognostic marker in B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders.