title: The significance of multiplex PCR/heteroduplex analysis-based TCR-γ gene rearrangement combined with laser-capture microdissection in the diagnosis of early mycosis fungoides.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diagnosis of early mycosis fungoides (MF) is a big challenge to dermatologists and dermatopathologists because it lacks specific clinicopathologic features.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-two paraffin-embedded skin samples from 50 patients, including 31 with suspected MF, 10 with typical MF and 9 with benign inflammatory dermatosis (BID), were obtained from our archives. DNA was extracted both by traditional phenol-chloroform method and by the laser-capture microdissection (LCM)-proteinase K approach. The T(VG) /T(JG) , V(2-5) /V(8-12) /JGT(1) and BIOMED-2-TCR-γ primers were used to assess TCR-γ monoclonal rearrangement as measured by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the suspected MF group, clonal TCR-γ gene rearrangements were detected in 11/31 cases (35.5%) by phenol-chloroform DNA extraction and in 25/31 cases (80.7%) by LCM-proteinase K extraction (p < 0.05). While T-cell clonality was detected in 8/10 cases (80%) by the phenol-chloroform method and 10/10 cases (100%) by LCM (p > 0.05) in the typical MF group, no TCR-γ monoclonal rearrangement was detected in the BID group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The strategy of multiple PCR/heteroduplex analysis for TCR-γ gene rearrangement combined with LCM increases the detection rate of clonal TCR-γ gene rearrangement in early MF cases and could provide strong evidence to confirm the diagnosis of early MF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatovenerology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Hanjun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Weiping
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor / Q000235:genetics*; D019675:Genes, T-Cell Receptor gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042282:Microdissection / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D009182:Mycosis Fungoides / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*