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Techniques to Determine Clonality in Hematolymphoid Malignancies

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Molecular Pathology of Hematolymphoid Diseases

Part of the book series: Molecular Pathology Library ((MPLB,volume 4))

Abstract

Clonality testing is a well-established molecular diagnostic technique in the realm of hematopathology. Molecular techniques to diagnose hematological malignancies based on the detection of clonality have been with us since the mid-1980s, based on the seminal observation that lymphoid cells rearrange their antigen receptor genes and that recurrent genetic rearrangements are present in myeloid neoplasms. In this chapter, I review the history of clonality testing in cancer, describe the scientific principles on which clonality-based testing rest, and then describe the numerous techniques that are now available for diagnosing hematolymphoid malignancies by demonstrating their clonal nature.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA

    Daniel E. Sabath MD, PhD

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  1. Daniel E. Sabath MD, PhD
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  1. Dept. Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 27599-7525, USA

    Cherie H. Dunphy

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Sabath, D.E. (2010). Techniques to Determine Clonality in Hematolymphoid Malignancies. In: Dunphy, C. (eds) Molecular Pathology of Hematolymphoid Diseases. Molecular Pathology Library, vol 4. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5698-9_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5698-9_8

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