title: T-cell receptor gene rearrangements in lymphoid and non-lymphoid leukaemias.
abstract: Rearrangements of delta-, tau-, and beta- T-cell receptor (TcR) chain genes were analysed in 64 haematologic malignancies comprising T- and B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukaemias (ALL), B-chronic lymphocytic leukaemias (CLL), acute myeloid leukaemias (AML) and acute undifferentiated leukaemias AUL). The TcR genes were rearranged in 5/6 T-ALL. In non-T-leukaemias the frequency of TcR gene rearrangements was higher in B-lineage ALL (8/11), although they were all detected in B-CLL (5/29), AML (1/16) and AUL (2/4). Immunoglobulin (Ig) gene rearrangements were observed in 1/6 T-ALL and 2/14 AML. The analysis of these gene configurations has a diagnostic application since it allows the definition of the clonality of malignant proliferation and although they are not lineage specific such configurations represent a further parameter to evaluate, together with the immunophenotype and morphology, in the assignment or exclusion of the differentiation lineage of the haematologic malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casares
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parrado
mesh_terms: D015329:Gene Rearrangement, T-Lymphocyte; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000235:genetics; D015459:Leukemia-Lymphoma, Adult T-Cell / Q000235:genetics