Detection of chromosome aberrations in peripheral T-cell lymphomas by fluorescence in situ hybridization

Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, we have detected trisomy 3 (+3) and gain of an extra X chromosome (+X) in 32 (78%) and 14 (34%) of 41 patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas, respectively. However, cells with trisomy 3 and +X were, on average, 4.5% and 8.2%, respectively. The study showed that trisomy 3 and +X were the specific chromosome aberrations of peripheral T-cell lymphoma; cells with +3 and +X constituted only a small part in a specimen: FISH was more sensitive than traditional cytogenetics in detection of chromosome aberrations.