Monoallelic p53 deletion in chronic lymphocytic leukemia detected by interphase cytogenetics.
Chromosomal aberrations can be detected in 50% of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). A role for tumor suppressor genes in the genesis of lymphoid tumors has been reported. In B-CLL, p53 gene mutations were found in 10-15% of the patients. We used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to detect p53 deletion in B-CLL. We also correlated the cytogenetic findings with the clinical course. In situ hybridization to interphase nuclei showed monallelic p53 deletion in 6 of 23 patients (26%). The percentage of cells with one p53 signal ranged from 12 to 100. A statistically significant correlation between p53 deletion and progression of CLL was demonstrated. We conclude that FISH is a sensitive and reliable method to detect deletion of specific genes (i.e., p53) in CLL. The finding of p53 deletion is associated with disease progression.
Amiel
A
A
Department of Medicine, Meir Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel.
Arbov
L
L
Manor
Y
Y
Fejgin
M
M
Elis
A
A
Gaber
E
E
Lishner
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D003582:Cytogenetics / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D007399:Interphase; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged