 In most human follicular B cell lymphomas the bcl-2 gene is up-regulated as a result of the t(14;18) chromosomal translocation generating a hybrid bcl-2-IgH mRNA.     ///    "Recently, we have identified in t(14;18)-positive cells a bcl-2-IgH mRNA in the antisense orientation, putatively responsible for the overexpression of bcl-2. "    ///    A variety of sense-oriented oligonucleotides have been designed that target the antisense transcript in regions endowed with a sequence specificity presumably restricted to an individual cell line (the bcl-2-IgH fusion regions) or extended to all t(14;18) cells (the ectopic bcl-2 segment upstream from the major breakpoint region and the IgH segment).     ///    The antisense bcl-2-IgH transcript is an optimal target for synthetic oligonucleotides..     ///    The selectivity and efficacy of all sense ODNs tested provide support for the development of therapeutic ODNs targeting the bcl-2-IgH antisense transcript expressed in human follicular lymphomas..     ///    "Antisense-oriented ODNs, complementary to the bcl-2-IgH mRNA, and control ODNs (scrambled, inverted, or mismatched) were biologically ineffective. "