Role of RT-PCR and FISH in diagnosis and monitoring of acute promyelocytic leukemia.

Background: Patients with a presence of Promyelocytic Leukemia-Retinoic Acid Receptor Alpha (PML-RARA) genes rearrangement predict a favorable response to all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), and a significant improvement in survival. Therefore, establishing the presence of PML-RARA rearrangement is important for optimal patient management.

Aim: The objective of this study is to compare and assess the role of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the diagnosis and long-term monitoring of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL).

Immunophenotyping of mature T/NK cell neoplasm presenting as leukemia.

Introduction: Mature T/NK cell lymphomas (MTNKL) presenting as leukemia are rare and show considerable overlapping of clinical, morphological and immunophenotypic features.

Aim: Critical analysis of the morphology and immunophenotypic profile of MTNKL.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed 380 consecutive cases of mature lymphoid neoplasm that presented as leukemia and were diagnosed on morphology and immunophenotyping of bone marrow and/or peripheral blood samples.

Immunophenotyping of mature B-cell non Hodgkin lymphoma involving bone marrow and peripheral blood: critical analysis and insights gained at a tertiary care cancer hospital.

We evaluated the diagnostic utility of flow cytometry immunophenotyping in bone marrow aspirates and peripheral blood, in the assessment of mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (MBNHL). We analyzed 356 cases of MBNHL received for immunophenotyping over a 4 year period. All cases were reviewed, correlated with biopsy specimen (lymph node and splenectomy).

Clinico-hematological profile in biphenotypic acute leukemia.

Background: We present a clinico-hematological profile and treatment outcome of Biphenotypic Acute Leukemia (BAL).

Aim: Study incidence and subtypes of BAL, correlate with age, morphology, and cytogenetic findings and correlate the clinico-hematological data with the treatment response. St Jude's and the EGIL's criteria have been compared for their diagnostic and clinical relevance.

Identification of PML/RARalpha fusion gene transcripts that showed no t(15;17) with conventional karyotyping and fluorescent in situ hybridization.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is characterized by a reciprocal translocation, t(15;17)(q22;q11-21), resulting in the fusion of the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) and retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARalpha) genes. Using conventional cytogenetic methods, these translocations are normally detected in about 70-90% of patients; most negative results are due to technical problems or cryptic variants. These masked PML/RARalpha fusions can be identified by molecular analyses, such as reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).