The B-cell-activating factor signalling pathway is associated withHelicobacter pyloriindependence in gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma without t(11;18)(q21;q21)

We previously reported that activation of the B cell-activating factor (BAFF) pathway upregulates NF-κB and induces BCL3 and BCL10 nuclear translocation in H. pylori (HP)-independent gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) tumours with evidence of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (DLBCL [MALT]). However, the significance of BAFF expression in HP-independence of gastric low-grade MALT lymphomas (MALT lymphoma) without t(11;18)(q21;q21) remains unexplored. Sixty-four patients who underwent successful HP eradication for localized HP-positive gastric MALT lymphomas without t(11;18)(q21;q21) were studied. BAFF expression was significantly higher in the HP-independent group than in the HP-dependent group (22 of 26 [84.6%] versus 8 of 38 [21.1%]; p