title: [Semiquantitative monitoring of molecular markers in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As quantitative changes of disease specific molecular markers may reflect disease activity, various methods quantifying targets of polymerase chain reaction were developed and their clinical relevance should be established.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Here the exploitation of the DNA limiting dilution methodology in molecular monitoring of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas is presented. Long-term stored diagnostic DNAs are checked for their integrity and examined in dose-response assays for semiquantitative estimates of t(14,18) translocations and clonal immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene rearrangement. Assuming that the specific targets are diluted proportionally by dilution of total genomic DNA, sensitivities of polymerase chain reaction expressed as minimal amounts of total cells in reaction initiating positivity are compared. The term PCR-detectability as the ratio of sensitivities determined for preceding and actual samples is introduced. The value of PCR-detectability lower than one is considered as an indicator of a decrease of cells bearing the marker and vice versa. So far, the considerable increases in PCR-detectabilities were found close to relapses and unsubstantial changes at clinical remissions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is presumable, that the semiquantitative limiting dilution approach may contribute to the monitoring of disease and treatment outcome.
authors.affiliation: I. interní klinika 1. lékarské fakulty UK a VFN, Praha.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Slavícková
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benesová
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bradová
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ullmanová
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D005819:Genetic Markers; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains