Detection of T-cell receptor γ gene rearrangement in paraffin-embedded T or natural killer/T-cell lymphoma samples using the BIOMED-2 protocol

While the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based clonality analysis of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue has recently become widespread, the detection sensitivity for lymphoma subtypes using FFPE samples is not well known. Here, we analyzed T-cell receptor γ chain (TCRG) gene rearrangement clonality in 100 cases of T- or natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma and examined detection sensitivity according to lymphoma subtype. Clonality was detected in approximately 80% of the major T-cell lymphoma subtypes: peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, 84% (21/25 cases); angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, 71% (15/21 cases); and adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, 80% (8/10 cases). The number of clonal peaks differed according to subtype. TCRG gene rearrangement was not detected in 63 cases of B-cell lymphoma or reactive lesions. Thus, clonality analysis can effectively and reliably detect TCRG gene rearrangement in T-cell lymphoma cases and could, therefore, be a useful diagnostic tool in routine practice.