Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on fine needle aspirates for rapid detection of translocations in synovial sarcoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the utilization of fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy to obtain material for reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the detection of the t(X;18)(p11.2;q11.2) translocation in synovial sarcomas.


METHODS
We applied RT-PCR to detection of synovial sarcoma fusion gene transcripts on fine needle aspirates. Five clinical samples were first analyzed: one was a tumor previously diagnosed as malignant hemangiopericytoma, one was a poorly defined tumor, and three were suspected synovial sarcomas. FNA material was transferred directly to the RT-PCR reaction tube without RNA extraction.


RESULTS
The t(X;18) translocation could be detected on the limited amount of material that FNA provides. In each of the cases studied the representivity of the tumor samples was confirmed microscopically.


CONCLUSIONS
Our protocol permits analysis directly on representative samples without extraction of RNA. The results imply that RT-PCR offers reliable detection of sarcoma fusion gene transcripts on fine needle aspirates. The procedure, apart from being applicable to outpatients, is rapid and sensitive.
Nilsson
G
G
Department of Cellular and Molecular Tumor Pathology, Cancer Center Karolinska, Sweden.
Wang
M
M
Wejde
J
J
Kanter
L
L
Karlén
J
J
Tani
E
E
Kreicbergs
A
A
Larsson
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013584:Sarcoma, Synovial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins