Fluorescence in situ hybridization on peripheral-blood specimens is a reliable method to evaluate cytogenetic response in chronic myeloid leukemia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usefulness of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on peripheral-blood specimens to evaluate the cytogenetic response to treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).


METHODS
In a first attempt, we analyzed 62 bone marrow specimens using interphase FISH and compared the results with those of conventional cytogenetics. In a second step, we analyzed 60 paired sets of bone marrow and peripheral-blood specimens with interphase FISH.


RESULTS
The results of interphase FISH agreed with conventional cytogenetics on bone marrow for most patients, and only minor differences were found (r =.98). The comparison of interphase FISH on bone marrow versus peripheral-blood specimens showed a strong correlation between these two specimen sources (r =.97).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirmed that FISH is a sensitive technique for the evaluation of response to treatment in patients with CML. Moreover, our study suggests that follow-up of cytogenetic response to therapy can be evaluated on peripheral-blood specimens, thus enabling an easier and more frequent evaluation of patients. The next step will be to evaluate this technique in a large prospective trial to define the prognostic value of complete remissions evaluated by FISH.
Le Gouill
S
S
Laboratory of Hematology and Clinical Hematology Department, University Hospital, Nantes, France.
Talmant
P
P
Milpied
N
N
Daviet
A
A
Ancelot
M
M
Moreau
P
P
Harousseau
J L
JL
Bataille
R
R
Avet-Loiseau
H
H
D001773:Blood Cells / Q000166:cytology; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D003582:Cytogenetics; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007399:Interphase; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014178:Translocation, Genetic; D016896:Treatment Outcome