The use of fine-needle aspiration cytology in the molecular characterization of neuroblastoma in children

BACKGROUND. The utility of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) material in the mol ecular characterization of a group of neuroblastic tumors (NT) in children is presented. METHODS. A recent study showed a high accuracy rate for FNA cytology (FNAC) in combination with immunostaining as a diagnostic method in 26 children w ith NT. In the current study FNA smears from 18 children were analyzed, eit her at the time of diagnosis or retrospectively, on available stored smears for cellular DNA content (DNA ploidy) by means of image cytometry (ICM) an d Ip deletion and N-myc amplification by interphase fluorescent in situ hyb ridization (FISH). RESULTS. A total 62 analyses (DNA ploidy, 20 analyses; chromosome 1 or 2 nu mber, 11 analyses; Ip deletion, 16 analyses; and N-myc, 15 analyses) result ed in clear information in GO cases, whereas 2 tests for N-myc amplificatio n failed. The results were compared with each other and with cytometric DNA analyses on tumor touch imprints (n = 12) and N-myc analyses on material f rom surgical specimens (Southern blot analysis, n = 12). The results were c oncordant in all but seven analyses (all with clear informative results) in six children. These discrepancies map be explained as an effect of either chemotherapy or tremor heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS, FNA is a fast and noninvasive diagnostic technique that yields sufficient material for the molecular characterization of neuroblastic tum ors by means of FISH and ICM. Such analyses are of prognostic significance because they predict tumor behavior and response to therapy according to In ternational Neuroblastoma Staging System/International Neuroblastoma Risk G roups criteria. In the majority of cases it also is possible to obtain mate rial for storage and future investigations. (C) 1999 American Cancer Societ y.