Molecular detection of metastatic retinoblastoma cells by reverse transcription polymerase reaction for interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein mRNA.
BACKGROUND
In the current study, the authors report a 4 year old girl with disseminated retinoblastoma. To find sensitive and specific molecular markers for detection of retinoblastoma cells in blood and marrow, the authors evaluated three photoreceptor-associated gene transcripts by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


METHODS
Samples of bone marrow and blood were obtained from healthy donors and the patient. RT-PCR was performed to detect the cone alpha'-subunit of cGMP phosphodiesterase (cone alpha'-PDE), the rod beta-subunit of cGMP (rod beta-PDE), and the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP) gene transcript in RNA extracted from the samples.


RESULTS
While no expression of rod beta-PDE or IRBP was detected in any of the normal samples, expression of cone alpha'-PDE was detected in two out of seven normal marrow samples. Expression of rod beta-PDE was not detected in the patient samples. Expression of IRBP was detected in the patient samples obtained from iliac bone marrow before intensive chemotherapy but not thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
RT-PCR for IRBP was a useful method for detecting metastatic retinoblastoma cells as well as for evaluating the therapeutic effects of treatment in this particular case.
Yamashita
N
N
Department of Pediatrics, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama, Japan.
Nishiuchi
R
R
Oda
M
M
Tomiyama
Y
Y
Eguchi
N
N
Endo
C
C
Manki
A
A
Seino
Y
Y
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D019046:Bone Marrow Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000556:secondary*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017931:DNA Primers; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D012175:Retinoblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D000099214:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Interstitial
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D005136:Eye Proteins; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D000099214:Retinol-Binding Proteins, Interstitial