title: Identification of malignant plasma cells by mRNA in situ hybridization.
abstract: Patients with multiple myeloma have a clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells, each with an identical rearrangement of immunoglobulin heavy and light chain genes. When these unique sequences are determined, a valuable molecular tool is available that can been used to detect the presence of the malignant population. Previous methods have employed oligonucleotides derived from these sequences and allele-specific polymerase chain reaction to detect clonality. The method described in this chapter uses mRNA in situ hybridization (ISH) to demonstrate the presence of individual malignant cells. Single-cell analysis using mRNA ISH provides opportunities that when combined with immunophenotyping offer a valuable new investigative tool.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Haematology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Ross D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: P Joy
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000235:genetics; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger