Lymphoma : Methods and Protocols

The tremendous progress made over the last few years in our molecular understanding of lymphocyte biology and lymphoma classification promises to have a major impact on clinical practice. In Lymphoma: Methods and Protocols, leading clinical investigators from world renowned laboratories describe in step-by-step detail the latest molecular techniques being used to better understand, classify, and treat lymphoma. Among the highlights are methods to use immunoglobulin gene rearrangements as markers of clonality, to exploit patterns of somatic mutation in the variable regions to indicate at which stage transformation occurred, and to apply gene arrays to the question of biological heterogeneity in morphologically similar diseases. Research methodologies that are highly likely to become routine practice in the future, such as DNA microarray and immunoglobulin V-gene rearrangements, and measurement of minimal disease, are included. There are also molecular techniques for producing novel therapeutics, such as a DNA vaccine with patient-specific sequences derived from the lymphoma in question. The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular MedicineTM series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principle behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Cutting-edge and highly practical, Lymphoma: Methods and Protocols offers oncologists, hematologists, and clinical scientists a diverse collection of readily reproducible techniques for the molecular diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of lymphomas. Purification of primary malignant B-cells and immunoblot analysis of Bcl-2 family proteins / Claire Dallman and Graham Packham Outcome prediction by gene expression profiling in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma / Kim Last, Silvana Debarnardi, and T. Andrew Lister Demonstration of a germinal center immunophenotype in lymphomas by immunochemistry and flow cytometry / Andrew Jack ... [et al.] Karyotyping lymph node biopsies in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma / Fiona M. Ross and Christine J. Harrison Identification of Lymphoma-associated antigens using SEREX / Amanda P. Liggins, Barbara A. Guinn, and Alison H. Banham Determining mutational status of immunoglobulin V genes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia : a useful prognostic indicator / Surinder S. Sahota ... [et al.] Idiotype gene rescue in follicular lymphoma / Katy McCann ... [et al.] Immunoglobulin gene mutation patterns and heterogeneity of MZL / Mariella Dono and Manlio Ferrarini T-cell receptor molecular diagnosis of T-cell lymphoma / Elizabeth Hodges, Anthony P. Williams, and John L. Smith Cloning of immunoglobulin chromosomal translocations by long-distance inverse polymerase chain reaction / E. Loraine Karran, Takashi Sonoki, and Martin J.S. Dyer Sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis for trisomy 12 in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia / Viktoria Hjalmar Splenic marginal zone lymphoma : 7q abnormalities / Rachel E. Ibbotson, Anton E. Parker, and David G. Oscier BCL-6: rearrangement and mutation in lymphoma / Simon D. Wagner and Jaspal S. Kaeda Antibody techniques used in the study of ALK-positive lymphoma / Karen Pulford, H.M. Robertson, and M. Jones Identification of anaplastic lymphoma kinase variant translocations using 5'RACE / Luis Hernandez and Elias Campo Follicular Lymphoma : quantitation of minimal residual disease by PCR of the t(14;18) translocation / John G. Gribben and Angela Darby. A cutting-edge collection of readily reproducible molecular techniques to better understand, classify, and treat lymphoma. Among the highlights are methods to use immunoglobulin gene rearrangements as markers of clonality, to exploit patterns of somatic mutation in the variable regions to indicate at which stage transformation occurred, and to apply gene arrays to the question of biological heterogeneity in morphologically similar diseases. Research methodologies that are highly likely to become routine practice in the future, such as DNA microarray and immunoglobulin V-gene rearrangements, and measurement of minimal disease, are included. There are also molecular techniques for providing for producing novel therapeutics, such as a DNA vaccine with patient-specific sequences derived from the lymphoma in question.

Mostly British scientists offer some practical information on the current molecular approaches being used to understand, classify, and treat lymphoma. The volume is not exhaustive for every chromosomal translocation and gene rearrangement, of course, but is designed to provide a background to the field and a foundation for the molecular diagnostics of a group of disease that are both biologically interesting and medically important. The topics include the purification of primary malignant B-cells and immunoblot analysis of Bcl-2 family proteins, idiotype gene rescue in follicular lymphoma, and antibody techniques used to study anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive ALCL. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Front Matter....Pages i-xiv Back Matter....Pages 1-13 ....Pages 15-63