title: Identification of the B-cell tumor-specific molecular fingerprint using non-radiolabelled PCR consensus primers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) of the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain variable region (VH) is the most reliable molecular fingerprint for most if not all human B cells. The nucleotide sequence encoding for any B-cell tumor-specific VH CDR3 is currently identified by PCR sequencing based on procedures involving the usage of either radioactive materials, patient/family-specific primers, or bacterial cloning.
  
  
  METHODS
  In six consecutive patients with follicular lymphoma we assessed the feasibility of a method that allows for identification of the tumor-specific VH CDR3 using consensus primers while avoiding both radioactive materials and bacterial cloning procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The tumor-specific VH CDR3 was successfully identified in all six patients in nearly half the time typically required by any other method currently utilized. The feasibility of the proposed method was not significantly affected either by the tumor-specific Ig isotype, or by the tumor infiltration in the original biopsy specimen. In the three patients for whom tumor specimen-derived hybridomas were available, the tumor-specific VH CDR3 was also found in at least 8 of 10 of them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proposed method allows the ability to quickly identify the B-cell tumor-specific VH CDR3 using consensus primers while avoiding radioactive materials and bacterial cloning procedures.
authors.affiliation: Clínica Universitaria, Department of Hematology, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. mbendandi@unav.es
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bendandi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tonelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Botti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sartini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inogés
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Calvillo
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Zinzani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pession
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pileri
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paolucci
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006825:Hybridomas; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012984:Software; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains