Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction as an ancillary molecular technique in the diagnosis of small blue round cell tumors by fine-needle aspiration cytology.

Abstract

We evaluated the feasibility and usefulness of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on fine-needle aspirates for categorization of small blue round cell tumors (SBRCTs). A total of 51 cases, including 25 Ewing sarcoma/peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs), 11 rhabdomyosarcomas, 13 neuroblastomas, and 2 desmoplastic small round cell tumors (DSRCTs) were analyzed. The detection of the EWS-FLI1 (20/25) and EWS-ERG (4/25) fusion transcripts resolved 24 of 25 cases of Ewing sarcoma/PNET. The PAX3/7-FKHR fusion transcript was detected in 2 of 4 cases of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma and the EWS-WT1 transcript in both cases of DSRCT. Tyrosine hydroxylase and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (dopa) decarboxylase transcripts were demonstrated in 10 of 13 cases of neuroblastoma. In comparison, immunocytochemical analysis resolved 19 (76%) of 25 Ewing sarcomas, 9 (82%) of 11 rhabdomyosarcomas, 6 (46%) of 13 neuroblastomas, and 1 (50%) of 2 DSRCTs. Overall, RT-PCR resolved 38 (86%) of 44 vs 35 (69%) of 51 cases by immunocytochemical analysis. RT-PCR is easily applied to fine-needle aspirates of SBRCT and greatly facilitates accurate tumor typing.

• Authors: Upasana Gautam, Radhika Srinivasan, Arvind Rajwanshi, Deepak Bansal, Ram Kumar Marwaha, Rakesh Kumar Vasishtha
• Journal: American journal of clinical pathology (Am J Clin Pathol) Vol. 133 Issue 4 Pg. 633-45 (Apr 2010) ISSN: 1943-7722 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20231617 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (therapeutic use)
• Biopsy, Fine-Needle (methods)
• Humans
• Neuroblastoma (diagnosis, drug therapy, genetics)
• Neuroectodermal Tumors, Primitive, Peripheral (diagnosis, drug therapy, genetics)
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Rhabdomyosarcoma (diagnosis, drug therapy, genetics)
• Sarcoma, Ewing (diagnosis, drug therapy, genetics)
• Sarcoma, Small Cell (diagnosis, drug therapy, genetics)
• Soft Tissue Neoplasms (diagnosis, drug therapy, genetics)