Molecular Pathology Laboratory Network

F IGH MYC

t(8;14)(q32;q24), MYC

Burkitt lymphoma

Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH)

88367 x3 - Morphometric analysis, in situ hybridization, automated
88368 x3 - Morphometric analysis, in situ hybridization, manual

3 days

• 2.0 mL (min. 1.0 mL) peripheral blood in sodium heparin preferred, EDTA accepted
• 1.0 mL (min. 0.5 mL) bone marrow in sodium heparin preferred, EDTA accepted
• 5 mm^3 fresh tissue in MPLN RPMI media
• 3.0 mL (min. 2.0 mL) FNA in MPLN RPMI media
• 10% neutral buffered formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissue

• Peripheral blood and bone marrow stable at 18-25°C for 72 hours
• Fresh tissue or FNA stable at 2-8°C for 72 hours

• Whole blood and bone marrow, ship ambient
• Fresh tissue, FNA or paraffin embedded tissue, ship in a Styrofoam container with an ice pack (Do not allow ice pack to directly contact sample)

Clotted specimen; Specimen exposed to extreme temperature; Anticoagulant toxic to cells; Insufficient number of cells; Improper fixative

In a normal cell the expected pattern is a two aqua, two orange and two green signal pattern. An abnormal cell containing the t(8;14) shows a pattern of one orange, one green, two orange/green fusions, and two aqua signals.

The t(8;14)(q32;q24) joins the cellular oncogenes C-MYC with sequences from immunoglobulin heavy chain gene enhancers leading to deregulated expression of C-MYC protein. This abnormality is characteristic of Burkitt lymphoma and may be seen with other chromosomal abnormalities in cases of large B-cell lymphoma. FISH can detect this translocation in either interphase or metaphase cells.

1. Janz S. DNA Repair (Amst). 2006 Sep 8;5(9-10):1213-24.
2. Pienkowska-Grela et al (2005). Cancer Genet Cytogenet 156(2):114.