Comparative analysis of TCR-gamma gene rearrangements by Genescan and polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Abstract

Demonstrating T-cell clonality has become an important approach supporting a diagnosis of malignant T-cell neoplasms. A comparative study between Genescan analysis, polyacrylamide gel and agarose gel electrophoresis in visualizing T-cell receptor gamma gene rearrangement was performed on 25 biopsy specimens from 18 patients with different forms of cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Clonality was detected in 17 biopsy specimens when PCR products were evaluated by Genescan analysis. Seventeen showed discrete bands when visualized in polyacrylamide gel and 14 cases were clonal when visualized with agarose gel. In five cases, a clonal population was seen in the gels, but not with Genescan. On sequencing the PCR products we demonstrated non-clonality of these five samples. Our results confirm that PCR-Genescan is a useful, reliable and specific screening method for detecting dominant clones in patients with T-cell lymphoma.