Clinical and Molecular Cytogenetics Laboratory

Neoplastic (cancer) Genetic Testing

Chromosome analysis is a crucial component of cancer diagnosis. It provides physicians with the necessary information on prognosis and management of the following neoplastic disorders:

• Acute and chronic leukemias of myeloid or lymphoid origin
• Myelodysplastic syndromes
• Myeloproliferative disorders
• Lymphomas and chronic lymphoproliferative disorders
• Solid tumors
• Status of remission/relapse

This laboratory performs routine cytogenetic analysis on the following:

• Bone Marrow
• Peripheral Blood - If circulating blast count is above 10%
• Solid Tumor Tissue
• Lymph node tissue

Fluorescence in-situ Hybridization (FISH) is an important diagnostic tool in cancer cytogenetics. The University of Texas Health Science Center is able to provide physicians with the latest diagnostic testing. With the use of FISH, we can provide information on:

• Gene rearrangements - to determine if specific gene rearrangement have occurred in cases where the number of cells is insufficient to be detected by standard cytogenetics.
• Monosomy or Trisomy - of specific chromosomes Status of Bone Marrow
• Transplants - to determine success or failure of a new transplant or the remission/ relapse of a previous transplant.

Minimum Specimen Requirements

Bone Marrow and Peripheral blood
3.0 cc in Sodium Heparin (green-top) vacutainer.
Transport at Room Temperature or Store at 2-8 C overnight (if necessary).

Tissue / Solid Tumor
~5mm cubed tissue biopsy transported in a sealed, STERILE container with RPMI
media, Hanks balanced salt solution, or sterile saline. Transport at Room
Temperature or Store at 2-8 C overnight (if necessary).