Interphase FISH for Y chromosome, VNTR polymorphisms, and RT-PCR for BCR-ABL in the monitoring of HLA-matched and mismatched transplants

Thirty-six sex-mismatched transplants were studied using fluorescence in si tu hybridization (FISH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Molecu lar cytogenetics was performed using interphase FISH with a centromeric pro be for chromosome Y, and PCR amplification was performed with a set of VNTR microsatellite loci. In addition, reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) for B CR-ABL fusion was used to investigate cases of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) -positive chronic myeloid leukemia mia (CML) and acute lymphoblastic leukem ia (ALL). Our integrated approach of post-transplant monitoring was helpful in documenting successful transplants and in controlling the size of Ph-po sitive clones in CML. A striking overlap was found between results from FIS H analysis and PCR for polymorphic loci. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.