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Improved reliability of lymphoma diagnostics via PCR-based clonality testing: — Report of the BIOMED-2 Concerted Action BHM4-CT98-3936

Abstract

The diagnosis of malignant lymphoma is a recognized difficult area in histopathology. Therefore, detection of clonality in a suspected lymphoproliferation is a valuable diagnostic criterion. We have developed primer sets for the detection of rearrangements in the B- and T-cell receptor genes as reliable tools for clonality assessment in lymphoproliferations suspected for lymphoma. In this issue of Leukemia, the participants of the BIOMED-2 Concerted Action CT98-3936 report on the validation of the newly developed clonality assays in various disease entities. Clonality was detected in 99% of all B-cell malignancies and in 94% of all T-cell malignancies, whereas the great majority of reactive lesions showed polyclonality. The combined BIOMED-2 results are summarized in a guideline, which can now be implemented in routine lymphoma diagnostics. The use of this standardized approach in patients with a suspect lymphoproliferation will result in improved diagnosis of malignant lymphoma.

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Acknowledgements

The successful completion of the EU-supported BIOMED-2 Concerted Action BMH4-CT98-3936 was based on efficient and open collaboration of 47 institutes with the following active participants:Netherlands: JJM van Dongen and AW Langerak, Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam; PhM Kluin and E Schuuring, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Academic Hospital Groningen, Groningen; JHJM van Krieken and PJTA Groenen, Department of Pathology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen; AH Mulder, Department of Pathology, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem; ST Pals and M Spaargaren, Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam; Belgium: E Moreau and E Boone, H Hartziekenhuis, Roeselare; Spain: JF San Miguel, R García Sanz, M Gonzalez Diaz and D Gonzalez, Department of Hematology, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca; T Flores Corral, Anatomia Patologica, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca; MA Piris, R Villuendas, B Martinez Delgado, and JF Garcia, Programa de Patologia Molecular, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Madrid; Portugal: A Parreira, J Diamond, P Gameiro, and R Fragoso, Instituto Portoguês de Oncologia, Lisbon; JM Cabeçadas, Department of Pathology, Instituto Português de Oncologia, Lisbon; C Sambade, Department of Pathology, Institute of Mol Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Porto; United Kingdom: JL Smith, L Lavender, and E Hodges, Molecular Pathology Unit, Southampton University Hospitals, Southampton; L Lavender, Molecular Genetics Diagnostic Laboratory, St George's Hospital, London; H White, National Genetics Reference Laboratory, Salisbury District Hospital, Wiltshire; L Foroni, Department of Haematology, Royal Free Hospital, London; TC Diss and P Isaacson, Department of Histopathology, UCL Medical School; BS Wilkins, Histopathology Department, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne; B Jasani and K Mills, University of Wales, Cardiff; GJ Morgan, Department of Hemato Oncology, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton Surrey; PA Evans, and A Jack, Haematological Malignancy Diagnostic Service, General Infirmary, Leeds; D Pearson, Department of Pathology, Cambridge University, Cambridge; I Carter, Department of Molecular Diagnostics and Histopathology, Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust, Nottingham; B Jennings, School of Medicine, University of East Anglia, Norwich; BJ Milner, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Aberdeen University, Aberdeen; M Vickers, Department of Haematology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen; Germany: M Kneba, C Pott, M Brüggemann, and J Droese, II Medizinische Klinik der Universität Kiel, Kiel; H Herbst and C Kersting, Gerhard-Domagk Institut für Pathologie, Münster; M Hummel and H Stein, Institute of Pathology, Free University Berlin, Berlin; CR Bartram and T Flohr, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg; L Trümper and W Jung, Department of Internal Medicine, Georg August University of Göttingen, Göttingen; M Ott and P Starostik, Institute of Pathology, Würzburg University, Würzburg; R Parwaresch and M Tiemann, Institute for Hematopathology, University of Kiel, Kiel; ML Hansmann and S Oeschger, Department of Pathology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt; France: EA Macintyre, E Delabesse, K Beldjord, and V Asnafi, Laboratoire d’Hematologie, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris; C Bastard and S Laberge, Centre Henri Becquerel, Rouen; F Davi and F Charlotte, Hopital Pitié-Salpétrière, Paris; MH Delfau-Larue, Service d’Immunologie Biologique, Hopital Henri Mondor-CHU Creteil, Creteil; G Delsol and T Al Saati, Lab d’Anatomie Pathologique, Hopital Purpan, Toulouse; TJ Molina, Department of Pathology, Hotel-Dieu de Paris, Paris; G Salles, F Berger, and L Baseggio, Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud, Pierre-Benite; D Canioni, Service d’Anatomie Pathologique, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris; P Gaulard and C Copie, Department de Pathologie, Hopital Henri Mondor-CHU Creteil, Creteil.

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van Krieken, J., Langerak, A., Macintyre, E. et al. Improved reliability of lymphoma diagnostics via PCR-based clonality testing: — Report of the BIOMED-2 Concerted Action BHM4-CT98-3936. Leukemia 21, 201–206 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2404467

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