title: Detection of minimal residual disease in B-lymphoproliferative disorders: a three step SSCP-PCR method.
abstract: The most recent therapeutic approaches can improve the outcome of B-cell neoplasia. By PCR analysis we amplify tumor specific DNA sequences of clonal IgH rearrangement from a limited number of malignant cells against a background of normal B cells. Recently described PCR based techniques for tracking minimal residual disease (MRD) in B lymphoproliferative disorders have given promising but discordant results, with significant variations in the sensitivity and specificity of the procedures. We have developed a three step single strand conformational polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (SSCP-PCR) strategy which is able to detect clonal malignant cells in B lymphoproliferative disorders at a frequency as low as 1 in 10(6) cells. Since this method is simple, rapid, reliable and as specific as ASO-PCR, it could be especially useful in monitoring patients affected by B lymphoproliferative disorders in complete haematological and immunophenotypic remission.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedale S. Martino e Cliniche Universitarie convenzionate, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miglino
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pietrasanta
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Palmisano
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berisso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clavio
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pierri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Canepa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gobbi
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017931:DNA Primers; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains