Circulating t(14;18)-positive cells in healthy individuals: association with age and sex but not with smoking

t(14;18)-positive cells can be detected not only in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) but also in healthy individuals (HIs). We used epidemiological data and blood samples of the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) to analyze associations of FL risk factors and t(14; 18)-positive cells in HIs. Buffy coat samples from 4152 study participants were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for t(14; 18)-positive cells. Of 3966 evaluable subjects, 1526 were t(14; 18)-PCR positive [38.5%, median 3.9 t(14; 18)-positive per million nucleated cells, range 0.6-9299]. In multivariable analyses, age and sex but not parameters of smoking exposure were significantly associated with t(14; 18) prevalence (logistic regression, p < 0.001). Multivariable analyses of t(14; 18)-frequency showed a positive association with age but not with sex or smoking. These age and sex associations in HIs require careful control in future studies of t(14; 18) as a potential biomarker of lymphoma risk.