Skin Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Skin Cancer, including details on identification, causes, prevention, treatment.

The potential contribution of fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis to the cytopathological diagnosis of Merkel cell carcinoma.

Suciu V, Botan E, Valent A, Chami L, Spatz A, Vielh P

Department of Medical Biology and Pathology, Institut Gustav Roussy, Villejiuf, France. voichita.suciu@igr.fr

We report the cases of two patients with head and neck Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) who developed local recurrences confirmed by cytopathology. Interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was performed for research purposes using centromeric probes of chromosomes 6 and 8, on cytological slides. Trisomy of chromosome 6 was found in 85% of tumour cells in the first case of MCC and case 2 exhibited trisomy 8 in 77% of tumour cells. In the absence of specific molecular markers, detection of trisomy 6 and/or trisomy 8 could help in identifying MCC. FISH analysis is easily and quickly performed on interphase nuclei obtained through fine needle aspiration and may be extended to the study of other relevant genetic abnormalities.

Published 21 January 2008 in Cytopathology, 19(1): 48-51.
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