title: A novel nested-PCR strategy for the detection of rearranged immunoglobulin heavy-chain genes in B cell tumors.
abstract: Several methods have been developed for the detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) in B cell tumors. Chromosomal translocations or the rearrangement of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) and T cell receptor genes are generally employed. We report a novel PCR method to detect MRD using IgH genes. IgH rearranged variable region (VDJ) were amplified from tumor specimens using consensus primers for variable and joining region genes. Complementarity-determining regions (CDR) were identified and used to generate tumor-specific primers. Two-round amplifications using primers derived from CDRs and joining or constant regions were performed for MRD detection. IgH nested-PCR approach was tested on a panel of 75 B cell tumors including acute lymphoblastic and chronic lymphocytic leukemias, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and multiple myelomas. A VDJ sequence was obtained in 62 out of 75 cases (83%). Sensitivity using DNA or cDNA templates was 10(-5) and (-6), respectively. This method is specific and sensitive and provides a simple, non-radioactive approach for the evaluation of MRD in B cell tumors.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina ed Oncologia Sperimentale, Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni Battista, Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Voena
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ladetto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Astolfi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Provan
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Gribben
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boccadoro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pileri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Corradini
mesh_terms: D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015326:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000235:genetics*; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm