Using FISH to Diagnose Ewing's Sarcoma and PNET
Author Information
Author(s): C. Taylor, K. Patel, T. Jones, F. Kiely, B.L. De Stavola, D. Sheer
Primary Institution: Imperial Cancer Research Fund, London, UK
Hypothesis
Can fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) accurately diagnose Ewing's sarcoma and peripheral neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) by detecting the t(11;22) translocation?
Conclusion
FISH is a reliable and accurate diagnostic tool for identifying Ewing's sarcoma and PNET through the detection of the t(11;22) translocation.
Supporting Evidence
- FISH can accurately identify the presence of the t(11;22) translocation in Ewing's sarcoma and PNET.
- The study involved a total of 130 pairs of measurements from normal nuclei and 224 from tumor cells.
- Median ratios of distances between signals were significantly different between normal and tumor cells.
- The technique allows for quick diagnosis, taking as little as 5-10 working days.
- FISH can be applied to other tumors with characteristic translocations when suitable probes are available.
Takeaway
Doctors can use a special test to look for a specific change in the genes of certain tumors in kids, which helps them know if it's Ewing's sarcoma or another type of tumor.
Methodology
The study used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to detect the t(11;22) translocation in interphase nuclei from tumor samples and cell lines.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in sample selection and interpretation of results due to the subjective nature of visual assessments.
Limitations
The technique may miss cases of Ewing's sarcoma or PNET that do not carry the t(11;22) translocation.
Participant Demographics
The study involved tumor samples from children and adolescents with small round cell tumors.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
(1.19, 1.59) for normal nuclei; (3.63, 6.23) for nuclei with t(11;22)
Statistical Significance
p<0.0001
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