The neoplastic cells in this disease also show gains on the short arm of chromosome 2 at position 16.1 which affect the "REL" protooncogene which codes for c-Rel, a protein that contols the maturation of B-cells and is implicated in the development of many cancers including lymphomas; as well as losses o the short armes of chromosomes 1 and 9 and 19.2 and 11.2 sites, respectively.