Detection of TCR‐γ gene rearrangements in early mycosis fungoides by non‐radioactive PCR‐SSCP

Early mycosis fungoides (MF) can mimic numerous benign inflammatory dermatoses on routine histological examination. In this study, a recently developed non‐radioactive polymerase chain reaction‐single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR‐SSCP) technique was used to assess T‐cell clonality in paraffin‐embedded skin biopsies clinically and pathologically suspicious for early MF. Non‐radioactive PCR‐SSCP is a simple, sensitive, reproducible and rapid procedure requiring minimal instrumentation. DNA was extracted from 22 skin biopsies of 20 patients with suspected patch stage MF and 15 skin biopsies of inflammatory dermatoses. Vγ1–8, Vγ9, Vγ10, Vγ11 and Jγ1/Jγ2 consensus primers were used for T‐cell receptor (TCR)‐γ gene rearrangement amplification. PCR products were analyzed by non‐radioactive SSCP. Clonal TCR‐γ gene rearrangements were detected in 17 of 22 (77%) suspected MF specimens. Clonal SSCP banding patterns were different among individual patients. In addition, identical banded patterns were demonstrated in serial skin biopsies from the same patient. No dominant T‐cell clones were found in the inflammatory dermatoses studied. Therefore, non‐radioactive PCR‐SSCP is a useful molecular diagnostic tool for assessment of T‐cell clonality in paraffin‐embedded specimens suspicious for early MF. The SSCP imprint of PCR products is specific for each TCR‐γ gene rearrangement, and may be used to evaluate concurrent/recurrent disease in individual patients.

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