title: T-cell clonality assays: how do they compare?
abstract: The distinction between certain benign cutaneous lymphocytic infiltrates and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) can be a challenging problem in clinical practice. An imperfect but useful tool in this circumstance is the analysis of T-cell clonality or monoclonality by assessing T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements. "Monoclonality" describes the origin of a specific human malignant tumor from one single cell from which the entire tumor is derived. The term is used to describe the early steps in tumorigenesis; in later stages of tumor growth and progression, monoclonal tumor cells may acquire a mutator phenotype, rendering the genome unstable. The resulting genetic heterogeneity may ultimately lead to subclones in the formerly monoclonal population of tumor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Zurich University Hospital, Zurich, Swizerland.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cozzio
authors.forename: Lars E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: French
mesh_terms: D002999:Clone Cells / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004485:Eczema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D006801:Humans; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*