STUDY OF CLONALITY IN MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROMES - DETECTION OF TRISOMY-8 IN BONE-MARROW CELL SMEARS BY FLUORESCENCE IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION

The lineage involvement in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) is still un clear. To determine the clonality and the evolution of the disorder, a retrospective study on bone marrow smears from seven MDS patients wit h trisomy 8 was performed using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FI SH). We observed that the trisomy of chromosome 8 was selectively expr essed in the myeloid-derived cells. No mature lymphocytes or plasma ce lls expressed three signals. Our studies demonstrate here the value of FISH for identifying the affected cell lineage. Furthermore, the easy quantification of the abnormal cells can help in assessing the progre ssion of the disease. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.