Detection of clonality in lymphoproliferations using PCR of the antigen receptor genes: does size matter?

Leuk Res. 2008 Feb;32(2):335-8. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2007.05.007. Epub 2007 Jun 22.

Abstract

A biopsy of a nasal mass that had morphologic and immunostaining features consistent with a B-cell lymphoma was studied for clonality using PCR of the IgH gene. An unexpectedly low molecular weight DNA fragment of approximately 140bp (acceptable size limit: 250-295bp) was obtained using FR2 and JH primers. The sequence of this DNA was consistent with a clonal IgH rearrangement followed by a deletion that removed most of the downstream portion of the V segment. Thus, the biopsy contained a monoclonal population of B-lymphocytes, consistent with a diagnosis of lymphoma. This work illustrates that bands outside of the size range expected from PCR of the antigen receptor genes may still be consistent with a monoclonal result.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Clone Cells
  • Gene Rearrangement, B-Lymphocyte, Heavy Chain*
  • Genes, Immunoglobulin Heavy Chain
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / diagnosis*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA*