Altogether, these data demonstrate that MALT1 undergoes auto-processing in lymphoma cells as a consequence of either constitutive upstream signals promoting MALT1 activation (such as in ABC DLBCL expressing oncogenic CARMA1) or a genetic fusion of MALT1 to the apoptosis inhibitor API2, which results in the formation of a hyperactive oncogenic API2-MALT1 fusion protein. The gene discussed is BIRC3; the disease is lymphoma.