Factors influencing the false positive and negative rates of BCR-ABL fluorescence in situ hybridization

BCR-ABL fluorescence in situ hybridization has a useful role to play in experimental and clinical investigations of chronic myeloid leukaemia. However, the interpretation of results is complicated by variability in the false positive rate (FPR) and false negative rate (FNR). We therefore examined the effects on FNR and FPR of three factors, namely, the criteria used for defining a fusion signal, nucleus size, and the genomic position of the ABL breakpoint. We established two different criteria for BCR-ABL positivity: by criterion A cells were scored as positive when BCR and ABL signals were overlapping or touching and by criterion B cells were positive if they satisfied criterion A or if the signals were separated by up to one signal diameter. We measured nucleus size and Philadelphia (Ph) positivity in 573 cells from normal persons and 787 cells from the Ph+ SD-I cell line and related results to FNRs and FPRs. We also assessed the FNR in Ph+ CFU-GM colonies from five patients with different ABL breakpoints. We showed that each of these factors influenced the FNR and FPR. The less strict criterion (B) for Ph positivity increased the FPR but reduced the FNR, the FPR increased as the nucleus size decreased, and the FNR was greatest in CML cells with a 5′ ABL breakpoint. We conclude that these factors should be considered when evaluating the results of FISH studies to detect the BCR-ABL fusion gene and that analogous factors may influence results of FISH studies directed at other fusion genes. Genes Chromosom. Cancer 18:246–253, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

BCR/ABL fusion located on chromosome 9 in chronic myeloid leukemia with a masked Ph chromosome

A reciprocal translocation, t(10; 22) (q22; q11), resulting in a masked Ph chromosome was identified in a patient diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Both homologs of chromosome 9 were of the normal pattern. Two signals for the ABL probe, both of them hybridized to chromosome 9, were demonstrated via fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Furthermore, cohybridization with two differently labeled BCR/ABL translocation DNA probes indicated a BCR/ABL fusion apparently located on 9q34. Molecular studies revealed a rearrangement of the BCR region and expression of a chimeric BCR/ABL mRNA of CML configuration. These findings indicate that the BCR/ABL fusion resulted from an unusual relocation of the BCR gene from its normal position on 22ql I to 9q34 adjacent to the ABL gene.     

Translocation of BCR to chromosome 9: A new cytogenetic variant detected by FISH in two Ph-negative,BCR-positive patients with chronic myeloid leukemia

Leukemic cells from two patients with Philadelphia-negative chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) were investigated: I) Cytogenetics showed a normal 46.XY karyotype in both cases, 2) molecular studies revealed rearrangement of the M-BCR region and formation of BCR-ABL fusion mRNA with b2a2 (patient I) or b3a2 (patient 2) configuration, and 3) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) demonstrated relocation of the 5′ BCR sequences from one chromosome 22 to one chromosome 9. The ABL probe hybridized to both chromosomes 9 at band q34, while two other probes which map centromeric and telomeric of BCR on 22q 11 hybridized solely with chromosome 22. For the first time, a BCR-ABL rearrangement is shown to take place on 9q34 instead of in the usual location on 22q 11. A rearrangement in the latter site is found in all Ph-positive CML and in almost all investigated CML with variant Ph or Ph-negative, BCR-positive cases. The few aberrant chromosomal localizations of BCR-ABL recombinant genes found previously were apparently the result of complex and successive changes. Furthermore in patient 2, both chromosomes 9 showed positive FISH signals with both ABL and BCR probes. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis indicated that mitotic recombination had occurred on the long arm of chromosome 9 and that the rearranged chromosome 9 was of paternal origin. The leukemic cells of this patient showed a duplication of the BCR-ABL gene, analogous to duplication of the Ph chromosome in classic CML. In addition they had lost the maternal alleles of the 9q34 chromosomal region. The lymphocytes of patient 2 carried the maternal chromosome 9 alleles and were Ph-negative as evidenced by RFLP and FISH analyses, respectively. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Y chromosome loss in chronic myeloid leukemia detected in both normal and malignant cells by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization

Loss of the Y chromosome in bone marrow (BM) cells is a normal age-associated event. Y chromosome loss is also observed in the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) positive BM cells of some patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase, but at a younger age than in normal individuals. While the significance of loss of the sex chromosome in normal males is uncertain, -Y marrow cells are not believed to be of clonal origin. However, because CML is a clonal disease, CML sub-populations with Y loss may constitute a disease-related sub-clone. We used a PCR-amplified yeast artificial chromosome containing the BCR gene region for single color interphase analysis of BCR rearrangement by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Then, using two color FISH, with one fluorochrome detecting the BCR gene region and the other detecting Y chromosome repeat sequences, we surveyed peripheral and BM Y loss in both normal Ph- (BCR not disrupted) and CML Ph+ (BCR rearranged) interphase nuclei of two patients with Y loss in Ph positive cells observed by metaphase analysis. -Y was seen in a proportion of Ph+ cells in both cases, and the proportion matched that seen in Ph- cells, indicating that Y loss is probably sporadic in both normal and CML populations, and that the propensity for Y loss in normal BM cells may be a phenotype that can be retained by malignant cells in CML.     

Philadelphia-like translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11) found in a follicular lymphoma involving not BCR and ABL but IGL-mediated rearrangement of an unknown gene on 9q34

In a case of follicular center cell lymphoma (FCCL) without evidence of histologic progression towards a high-grade lymphoma, t(9;22)(q34;q11) was found simultaneously with a t(14;18)(q32;q21) and a t(8;14)(q24;q32). Molecular studies of this case showed BCL2 and MYC rearrangements in addition to the rearrangements of immunoglobulin heavy (IGH) and lambda (IGL) loci. Investigation of the t(9;22) using Southern blot and RT-PCR analysis failed to detect M-bcr or m-bcr rearrangements of BCR. Two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with ABL and BCR probes revealed presence of a “fusion” signal, but its atypical localization [der(9)] and gene order [cen-ABL-BCR-tel] indicated that this translocation differed from the t(9;22) in chronic myeloid leukemia and did not involve either ABL or BCR. In addition, further FISH analysis using 9q34- and 22q11-specific probes localized the breakpoint on chromosome 9 distal to the NOTCH1 gene and the breakpoint on 22q11 in the IGL gene cluster. These results indicate an IGL-mediated rearrangement of an unknown gene at 9q34 that together with BCL2 and MYC might be involved in the lymphomagenesis of the present case of FCCL and perhaps in other cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in which t(9;22) is sporadically occurring. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 20:113–119, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Location of the BCR-ABL fusion gene on the 9q34 band in two cases of Ph-positive chronic myeloid leukemia

Two new variant Philadelphia (Ph) chromosomes with an aberrant location of the BCR-ABL fusion gene on 9q34 of the derivative 9 are reported. One presented cytogenetically as a standard t(9;22)(q34;q11), whereas the other was classified as an ins(9;22)(q34;q11.1q11.2) using the combined interpretation of cytogenetic, FISH, and molecular data. The mechanisms of the two rearrangements are presented. It is suggested that the insertion has occurred in a single event in the patient with ins(9;22). In the patient with t(9;22), both a translocation and an insertion, occurring either sequentially or simultaneously, can account for the location of the BCR-ABL fusion gene on the derivative 9. A possible poor prognostic impact of this aberrant location of the BCR-ABL is also suggested by the clinical data reported in such patients. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 20:148–154, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

ABL amplification in a patient with lymphoid blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukaemia

 Although chronic phase myelogenous leukaemia (CML) is characterised by the Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome leading to a fusion of the BCR and ABL genes, additional genetic alterations involved in blast crisis are poorly understood. We report an at least 15-fold amplification of the ABL oncogene in a 29-year-old male patient with a variant Ph-positive t(19;22)(p13;q11.2) CML who presented in lymphoid blast crisis. Our finding suggests that an amplification of the ABL oncogene might play a part in the appearance of an aggressive phenotype in some cases of CML. Received: 27 July 1998 / Accepted: 26 October 1998     

BCR-ABL探针在慢性粒细胞白血病中的应用

目的用常规细胞遗传学（conventional cytogenetics,CC）和荧光原位杂交（fluorescence chromosomal in situ hybridization,FISH）技术检测Ph染色体。方法常规细胞遗传学分析（CC）,荧光原位杂交（FISH）技术。结果7例患者4例Ph染色体阴性,其中2例分别伴有t（18;22）和t（17;22）异常,其余2例为异基因造血干细胞移植后正常核型。一例培养后无中期分裂相。2例Ph染色体阳性,FISH结果bcr/abl（＋）细胞检出率分别为63.87%,84.51%,7.56%,4.0%,74.45%,67%,47%。结论常规细胞遗传学与荧光原位杂交技术相结合对CML患者诊断治疗过程中肿瘤负荷动态检测有显著意义。     

Genomic BCR-ABL1 breakpoints in pediatric chronic myeloid leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a rare disease in children and adolescents and various aspects—from molecular genesis to therapy regimen—have been taken over from studies on the more prevalent adult CML. However, differences have been observed between malignancies with identical underlying chromosomal translocations, but occurring at different age groups, suggesting some diversity in the mechanisms of formation and leukemogenesis. A multiplex long‐range PCR‐based assay was developed to allow fast and reliable amplification of patient‐specific BCR‐ABL1 fusion sequences from genomic DNA. The localization of breakpoints was analyzed with respect to distribution within the breakpoint cluster regions, sequence features, and association to repetitive elements or motifs associated with DNA recombination. The genomic fusion sites of 59 pediatric CML patients showed a bimodal breakpoint distribution in BCR that was different from the distribution in adult CML cases, but with similarities to BCR‐ABL1‐positive, acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults. BCR breakpoints were found more frequently positioned within, or close to, Alu repeats than would be expected based on their overall sequence proportion. Technical aspects of the highly sensitive DNA‐based quantification of residual CML cells by specific fusion sequence during tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy are exemplified in a subcohort of pediatric CML patients. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Frequent translocations of 11q13.2 and 19p13.2 in ovarian cancer

Aberrations of chromosome arm 19p in ovarian cancer were first described decades ago and have been confirmed in recent publications, which have focused on chromosome 11 as a translocation partner. Recently, genetic analysis of the ovarian cancer cell line SKOV3 revealed a rearrangement described as der(19)t(11;19)(q13.2;p13.2), which lead to a fusion protein containing parts of HOOK2 and frame shifted ACTN3 that had unknown functionality. To evaluate the frequency of these breakpoints, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes flanking these genes for interphase analysis of ovarian cancer cells. We analyzed 49 primary cell cultures of ovarian cancers using FISH probes next to these breakpoints on chromosomes 11 and 19 defined in SKOV3. Co‐localizations of the signals in interphase nuclei were considered to be positive fusions when the frequency was over the experimentally calculated cutoff of 24.3% (mean average value for normal ovary cells plus three times the standard deviation). Fusions between 11q13.2 and 19p13.2 were confirmed in 22 (45%) primary cell cultures of ovarian cancers. However, by PCR, the fusion originally described in SKOV3 was not detected in any of the primary cell cultures. Our results confirm other reports and show that these regions are very frequently involved in chromosomal rearrangements in ovarian cancer. Furthermore, they reveal a significant correlation (P = 0.023) of co‐localized signals of 11q13.2 and 19p13.2 with low and intermediate grades in ovarian cancer. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Detection of the t(2;13)(q35;q14) and PAX3-FKHR fusion in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma by fluorescence in situ hybridization

Cytogenetic studies of the pediatric solid tumor alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma have demonstrated the presence of a consistent chromosomal translocation, t(2;13)(q35;q14). We recently identified PAX3 and FKHR as the genes on chromosomes 2 and 13, respectively, that are juxtaposed by this translocation. As one means of detecting the t(2;13) translocation in clinical specimens, we have developed a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay that may be used for both interphase and metaphase cells. Translocation of the 5′ region of the FKHR gene to the derivative chromosome 2, and retention of the 3′ region of FKHR on the derivative chromosome 13 [(der(13)], were demonstrated in metaphase cells from a rhabdomyosarcoma cell line with a previously identified t(2;13) translocation. A 5′ PAX3 cosmid probe was shown to localize to 2q35 in normal cells, and to translocate to the der(13) in the rhabdomyosarcoma cell line. In order to detect the der(13) in interphase nuclei, we labeled the 3′FKHR and the 5′PAX3 cosmid probes with digoxigenin and biotin, respectively, and used these in a two-color FISH assay. The presence of the der(13) was visualized as juxtaposed or overlapping red and green signals in metaphase and interphase tumor cells. The PAX3-FKHR FISH assay was then applied to a series of cytogenetically characterized pediatric sarcoma cell lines. The presence of the der(13) was demonstrated by FISH in all cases containing a cytogenetically detectable t(2;13). The FISH assay was then applied to a series of 20 embryonal and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma samples. All 10 of the alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma specimens demonstrated a der(13) with the FISH assay. We did not detect a PAX3-FKHR fusion in 10 embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma cases. Thus, the two-color FISH assay is a sensitive and rapid means of identifying the t(2;13) in rhabdomyosarcoma specimens, and it will be a useful adjunct for the diagnosis of pediatric small round cell tumors. The cosmid probes for the 5′ and 3′ regions of FKHR, as well as the probe for PAX3, will be useful for molecular cytogenetic studies of variant translocations in rhabdomyosarcoma, such as the t(1;13)(p36;q14).     

The second ETV6 allele is not necessarily deleted in acute leukemias with a ETV6/ABL fusion

The ETV6 (TEL) locus at chromosome band 12p13 is a major site of translocations in acute leukemia, particularly in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In cases with translocations involving ETV6, the normal ETV6 allele is often deleted. In addition, loss of heterozygosity of ETV6 is frequently observed in childhood ALL. Thus, it has been suggested that ETV6 may have an anti-oncogenic role to play, in addition to its oncogenic role. We have described an unusual case of ALL in which ETV6 is found fused to the ABL gene; ABL is normally activated by fusion to the BCRgene in the 9:22 translocation. We expanded the primary cells from this ETV6/ABLrearranged case of ALL in SCID animals and analyzed them for expression of both ETV6/ABL and the normal ETV6mRNA. We found that both the rearranged and normal ETV6 mRNAs are expressed in the expanded cell population. Furthermore, sequence analysis of the ETV6 PCR product revealed no point mutations which would influence the amino acid sequence. Thus, deletion of the second ETV6 allele is not necessary for the transformation to leukemia by ETV6/ABL. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 21:256–259, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Crosstalk between BCR/ABL and RNAi

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a malignant disease of progenitor myeloid cells caused by chromosomal translocation that results in the forming of diminutive Philadephia chromosome that harbors BCR/ABL fusion oncogene. The product of this oncogene, a tyrosine kinase, alters several important regulatory pathways related to cell growth and differentiation thus leading to cancer transformation. Major form of CML therapy is based on tyrosine kinase inhibitors, first of all imatinib (IM). Some patients develop resistance to IM in the course of treatment. In the process of leukemogenesis the activity of miRNAs – one of groups of RNAs involved in RNA interference (RNAi) – is altered. Signatures of altered miRNAs activity may serve as a prognostic factor in the development and therapy of several diseases. Moreover, other group of RNAs involved in RNAi – siRNA – might be valuable addition to array of specific therapeutics targeted the BCR/ABL kinase.     

荧光原位杂交检测慢性粒细胞白血病

目的 探讨对慢性粒细胞白血病进行荧光原位杂交(fluorescence in situ hybridization,FISH)检测的意义.方法 对158例慢性粒细胞白血病标本采用24 h短期培养法制备染色体,然后应用双色双融合BCR/ABL探针进行FISH检测,部分标本同时采用R显带技术进行染色体核型分析.结果 158例中共检出Ph阳性标本98例,其中69例(70.4%)为典型双色双融合BCR/ABL探针信号模式(1R1G2F),其余29例(29.6%)为3类12种非典型模式.各种非典型信号模式中出现频率较高的依次为:1R1G1F7例(7.1%)、2R1G1F 5例(5.1%)、1R1G2F&1R1G3F 4例(4.1%)、2R2G1F 3例(3.1%).对18例有核型资料的非典型信号的病例分析显示:其中3例特殊信号系由变异Ph易位引起;2例中出现的3个融合信号来源于附加的Ph染色体;4例核型与FISH结果不吻合,提示染色体分析存在错漏之处;3例染色体为典型Ph易位,而FISH结果为单个融合信号,系由der(9)号的部分缺失所致;3例核型中未发现Ph染色体.但FISH显示40%～64%的细胞中存在一个融合信号,从而明确慢性粒细胞白血病诊断;3例是移植或经格列卫治疗后的患者,染色体均为正常核型,而FISH检测到极小比例的阳性细胞.结论 FISH在慢性粒细胞白血病诊断、判断变异易位、隐匿Ph易位、衍生9号缺失、干扰素及格列卫的疗效观察以及移植后监测等诸多方面均具有重要价值.