Application of CISH, to determine reproducibility in the assessment of t (11.14) (q13.q32) translocation in either bone marrow and peripheral blood

Audrey Jackson

ABSTRACT:

CISH has superseded fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for the assessment of HER 2 oncogene status in breast cancer having 90-100% concordance. SPOT -Light (r) HER2 CISH TM Kit was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in July 2008.

Limited numbers of commercially available gene probes has hindered the use of CISH in UK pathology laboratories. However a new protocol generating probes for CISH has been constructed to map any gene of interest. Gene copies are detected using a peroxidise reaction (CISH) instead of fluorochromes (FISH).

The aim of this study is a new area of investigation in the application of CISH, to determine reproducibility in the assessment of t (11.14) (q13.q32) translocation in either bone marrow and peripheral blood in a minimum of 20 patients who present with features of Mantle cell lymphoma or atypical Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (B-CLL). These patients will have been routinely tested by FISH to confirm the t (11.14) (q13.q32) translocation.

MCL is an aggressive lymphoma that shares similar morphological characteristics to atypical B-CLL but has distinct genetic features that dictate different clinical course and management. Differentiation is clinically relevant because patients with MCL usually present with disseminated disease, extra nodal involvement, aggressive course and refractoriness to standard chemotherapy.