Fluorescent in situ hybridization for the detection of t(8:14) in Burkitt's lymphoma

• Published in: Acta haematologica Vol. 90; no. 4; p. 186
• Main Authors: Lishner, M, Kenet, G, Lalkin, A, Yarkoni, S, Ben-Bassat, H, Fejgin, M, Rechavi, G, Amiel, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01-01-1993
• Subjects: Biopsy, Needle; Burkitt Lymphoma - genetics; Burkitt Lymphoma - pathology; Child; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Humans; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence - methods; Lymphocytes - pathology; Male; Translocation, Genetic; Tumor Cells, Cultured
• ISSN: 0001-5792
• DOI: 10.1159/000204455

Burkitt's lymphoma cells exhibit the reciprocal balanced chromosomal translocation t(8:14) in 75% of patients. Cytogenetic analysis is time-consuming, requires in vitro culture with mitogens and enables to analyse a relatively small number of cells. We evaluated the role of multicolor fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) in the rapid detection of t(8:14) in Burkitt's lymphoma cells. FISH detected the JH/myc translocation in 100% of the cells of five cell lines carrying the classical t(8:14) and in fresh cells obtained from a newly diagnosed Burkitt's lymphoma patient. In contrast, the translocation was not detected in the Bajb cell line that does not carry t(8:14). We conclude that FISH is a rapid and reliable diagnostic tool for the detection of the JH/myc translocation in Burkitt's lymphoma patients.