Abstract
Objectives
Evaluation of light chain restriction is critical to establish clonality in B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in situ hybridization (ISH) are commonly used to assess light chain restriction in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. However, except for cases with plasma cell differentiation, these techniques often fail to identify immunoglobulin light chains. An ultrasensitive technique, RNAscope, has been recently introduced that can identify light chains in cases of B-cell LPDs. We analyzed the utility of this ultrasensitive method in detection of clonality and correlated with flow cytometry results when available.
Methods
A tissue microarray was constructed using 1.6-mm diameter tissue punches of 31 FFPE tissue blocks from 27 cases that were previously characterized as marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) by a combination of morphology, IHC, and/or flow cytometry. Cases included 8 nodal and 19 extranodal MZLs. In two cases, additional blocks were included to assess reproducibility. For ultrasensitive ISH RNAscope assay, 4-µm thickness tissue sections were hybridized using kappa and lambda probes, incubated overnight, counterstained with hematoxylin, cover-slipped, and reviewed blindly without knowledge of prior flow cytometry results.
Results
Of 18 cases with evaluable staining, 15 were clonal and 3 were polytypic. Flow cytometry was available in 14 of these 18 cases with concordance in 13 of 14 (93%). The discordant case was polytypic by flow cytometry but kappa restricted by RNAscope. The false-negative flow results could be due to sampling issues. In six cases, staining failed and could not be evaluated.
Conclusion
Ultrasensitive RNAscope is a reliable assay in the detection of clonality in FFPE tissue, particularly where fresh tissue is not available for flow cytometry. In addition, our results confirm and further expand prior observations that RNAscope is a highly sensitive and specific assay with high concordance with flow cytometry.
Numeric chromosomal abnormalities in small lymphocytic and transformed large cell lymphomas detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization of fine-needle aspiration biopsies