title: Protocol for the use of polymerase chain reaction in the detection of intraocular large B-cell lymphoma in ocular samples.
abstract: To determine the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses in the diagnosis of lymphoid infiltrate cells in ocular samples, PCR was performed using oligonucleotide primers specific for immunoglobulin heavy chain rearrangement at framework 2, framework 3, and t(14;18) translocation of the bcl-2 gene. These were used to successfully generate amplicons of 220 to 230 bp, 110 to 120 bp, and 175 to 200 bp, respectively. After PCR amplification, primers directed against the t(14;18) detected 10 pg of B-cell lymphoma DNA. PCR against Fr2 and Fr3 IgH rearrangement detected 10 fg and 10 pg in the seminested PCR, respectively. Conventional pathological methods were highly accurate at establishing the correct final diagnosis in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples but were much less sensitive and predictive in cytological specimens of intraocular fluid. A combination of the three PCR reactions was an equally successful diagnostic approach on paraffin-embedded samples, whereas single PCR reactions did not significantly improve diagnosis over histopathological diagnostic techniques. Thus, a combination of PCR reactions is useful in the detection of B-cell monoclonality, aids the differentiation between lymphomatous and inflammatory infiltrates, and is more powerful as a diagnostic method than single PCR or conventional cytopathology for lymphoid infiltrates in ocular fluid aspirates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, City Rd., London EC1V 2PD, UK.
authors.forename: Aires
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lobo
authors.forename: Narciss
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okhravi
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adamson
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lightman
mesh_terms: D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000166:cytology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D015322:Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics; D019254:Genes, bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000235:genetics*; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers