Abstract
To the Editor: Rearrangement of the variable (diversity) and joining gene segments of the immunoglobulin and T-cell–receptor genes generates unique DNA sequences at the junctional region of these gene segments. This junctional region is different in each lymphocyte. In the case of immunoglobulin genes, it is known as the complementarity-determining region III (CDRIII).1 Since a neoplasm represents a clonal expansion of a single malignantly transformed cell, junctional regions of rearranged immunoglobulin and T-cell–receptor genes in leukemias can be regarded as “tumor-specific” markers.2 3 4 Yamada et al. (Aug. 16 issue)5 used the polymerase chain reaction—mediated amplification of “tumor-specific” immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene junctional.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 772-775 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | New England Journal of Medicine |
Volume | 324 |
Issue number | 11 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 14 Mar 1991 |
Externally published | Yes |