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Measurement of tyrosine hydroxylase transcripts in bone marrow using biopsied tissue instead of aspirates for neuroblastoma
Author(s) -
Lee SeungTae,
Suh Yeon Lim,
Ko YoungHyeh,
Ki ChangSeok,
Sung Ki Woong,
Kim HeeJin,
Kim JongWon,
Kim SunHee,
Chueh Heewon,
Lee Soo Hyun,
Yoo Keon Hee,
Koo Hong Hoe
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.22483
Subject(s) - chemotherapy , histology , neuroblastoma , bone marrow , medicine , pathology , biology , cell culture , genetics
Abstract Background Molecular detection of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) transcripts by quantitative RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR) is a sensitive method to detect neuroblastoma (NB) cells in the bone marrow (BM). However, its clinical utility following chemotherapy has not been thoroughly investigated. Procedures TH transcripts in the BM were measured by qRT‐PCR both at diagnosis and during the course of chemotherapy. The results were analyzed with respect to assay timing, tumor volume and histological findings. Results TH transcripts were detected in 100% of BM aspirates at diagnosis in cases with concurrent tumor involvement in the BM section; however, the proportion of TH transcript positive BM aspirates in cases with concurrent tumor involvement in the BM section gradually decreased following chemotherapy (55.5% after three cycles, 28.6% after six cycles and 0% after nine or more cycles of chemotherapy). Decreased proportion of TH transcript positive BM aspirates was associated with reduced tumor volume in the BM and differentiation of tumors into mature forms during chemotherapy. When qRT‐PCR was performed with both aspirated and biopsied tissue during chemotherapy, TH transcripts were detected in BM tissue not only in all of the histology‐positive cases but also in some of the histology‐negative cases, while the proportion of TH transcript positive BM aspirates was low, even in histology‐positive cases. Conclusions Measurement of TH transcripts in BM aspirates does not appear to be clinically useful during or after chemotherapy. Therefore, molecular monitoring of NB cells during or after chemotherapy using BM tissue is more optimal than testing on BM aspirates. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:273–278. © 2010 Wiley–Liss, Inc.