Fluorescent-labeled DNA probes applied to novel biological aspects of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Fluorescent-labeled DNA probes were used to study 52 chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) patients for (1) disease progression, (2) angiogenesis genes, (3) T-cell leukemia 1 gene (TCL1), (4) immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHv) and (5) chromosome 6q. Compared to stable disease, more patients with progressive disease had ≥2 anomalies and a high percentage of neoplastic nuclei. Anomalies of genes for basic fibroblast growth factor, interleukin 4, vascular endothelial growth factor or TCL1 were not detected. Deletions in IGHv occurred in 25% of patients and correlated with IGHv gene expression. Probes for 6q23 detected more deletions in 6q than probes for 6q21.