[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [General pathology](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/) › [White cells, lymph nodes, spleen and thymus](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/areas/hematolymphoid/) › Mantle cell lymphoma: cyclin D1, CD5 and lymphomatous polyposis

# Mantle cell lymphoma: cyclin D1, CD5 and lymphomatous polyposis

- Lesion

A lymphoma of the B cells that ring the germinal centre. Cyclin D1 pushes them through the cell cycle; it is moderately aggressive.

Updated Nov 12, 2026

## Key points

- t(11;14) CCND1::IGH; cyclin D1 nuclear staining is the diagnostic test.
- CD5 positive like CLL, but CD23 negative and cyclin D1 positive.
- SOX11 expression is typical.
- Lymphomatous polyposis: multiple mucosal polyps in small bowel or colon.
- Moderately aggressive and hard to cure; a blastoid variant behaves worse.

## What it is

Mantle cell lymphoma copies the naive B cells of the follicle mantle. Almost all cases carry t(11;14), which joins the cyclin D1 gene to the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus and speeds the G1-to-S transition. It affects mainly older men, usually presents with generalized lymphadenopathy, marrow and blood involvement, and is the lymphoma most likely to spread along the bowel as many polyps.

## Structure

- Node effaced diffusely or in vague nodules by small to medium lymphocytes with slightly irregular, notched nuclei.
- Tumour cells may surround residual reactive germinal centres (mantle zone pattern).
- No proliferation centres (unlike CLL) and no large-cell admixture.

## Step by step

- A naive B cell acquires t(11;14), placing CCND1 next to the IGH enhancer.
- Overexpressed cyclin D1 activates CDK4/6, which inactivates RB and drives cells into S phase.
- Additional lesions (ATM, TP53) add genomic instability.
- The clone spreads to nodes, marrow, spleen, blood and gut mucosa.

## Markers

- Cyclin D1
- SOX11
- CD5
- CD20
- CD23 negative

## Clinical notes

- Older men with generalized lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and often lymphocytosis.
- GI involvement can cause bleeding or obstruction from polyps.

## Memory aid

Mantle cell: eleven fourteen, cyclin on, CD5 on, CD23 off.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Which protein confirms mantle cell lymphoma on a biopsy?

Nuclear cyclin D1, the result of t(11;14).

## How do you tell mantle cell lymphoma from CLL when both are CD5 positive?

Mantle cell lymphoma is cyclin D1 positive and CD23 negative; CLL is CD23 positive and cyclin D1 negative.

## What is lymphomatous polyposis?

Multiple mucosal polyps of the small or large bowel formed by mantle cell lymphoma.

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## Elsewhere in DurgiPedia

- [Lymph node: cortex, paracortex, medulla](https://durgical.com/en/immunology/lymph-node-cortex-paracortex-medulla/)

## Connections

## Related 3

- [The cell cycle in cancer: cyclins, CDKs and checkpoints](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/the-cell-cycle-in-cancer-cyclins-cdks-and-checkpoints/)
- [Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL/SLL)](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/chronic-lymphocytic-leukaemia/)
- [Gastrointestinal lymphoma](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/gastrointestinal-lymphoma/)

## Related conditions 1

- [Non-Hodgkin lymphoma](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/)

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Educational content on the mechanisms of disease; not a diagnostic or treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version](https://www.cancer.gov/types/lymphoma/patient/adult-nhl-treatment-pdq) (National Cancer Institute (NCI), 2026).

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Source: https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/mantle-cell-lymphoma-cyclin-d1-cd5-and-lymphomatous-polyposis/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/mantle-cell-lymphoma-cyclin-d1-cd5-and-lymphomatous-polyposis/