A set of commercially available fluorescent in-situ hybridization probes efficiently detects cytogenetic abnormalities in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Purpose: To investigate a simplified panel of fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) probes for evaluation of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and to correlate results from this technique with known prognostic factors.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the FISH and conventional cytogenetic results, and clinical and laboratory data of 44 patients with CLL.

Results: FISH was more sensitive than conventional cytogenetics in detecting genomic aberrations (75% vs. 16%, P < 0.0001). Trisomy 12 was significantly correlated with the cell surface marker of CD38 expression (P = 0.0017).

Conclusion: This FISH panel reliably detects prognostically important genomic abnormalities in CLL and is suitable for widespread use.