Molecular cytogenetic abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia detected by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization

Abstract

Objective To investigate molecular cytogenetic abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and clinic prognostic significance. Methods Conventional cytogenetics (CC) examination was performed in 17 cases with CLL by I-FISH with five probes [DI3S25(13q14.3), ATM(11q22.3), RB1(13q14), p53(17p13.1) and CSP12(12p11.1-12q11.1)]to detect molecular cytogenetic abnormalities in CLL. Results Among 17 cases of CLL, by CC examination, only 18.75 % patient were found to have chromosomal abnormalities;whereas on I-FISH, 70.6 % patient were found to have molecular cytogenetic abnormalities including 13q-(47.1%) del(RB1) (23.5 %), del(13q13.4)(29.4 %), trisomy 12 (29.4%), del(17p13.1)(11.8 %), del (ATM)(5.6 %), the frequency of complex abnormalities were 11.8 %. No correlation of molecular cytogenetic abnormalities with sex, age, Binet stage, LDH and β_2-MG were found. Conclusion I-FISH is a more rapid, accurate and sensitive technique for detection of molecular cytogenetic abnormalities in CLL than CC, There was no statistically significant difference between molecular cytogenetic abnormalities and clinic characteristics, but its prognostic significance in CLL needs to be further investigated. Key words: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization; Molecular cytogenetics