Objective: To set up the technical system of multiplex fluorescence in situ hybridization M-FISH and to explore its application in detection of the complex chromosome abnormalities in leukemia.
Methods: The complex chromosome abnormalities of two leukemia patients were analyzed by the combination use of classical cytogenetics, chromosome painting (CP), FISH and M-FISH.
Results: In a case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia-L2, the complex karyotype: 46,XY,der(2)t(2;9),der(9)t(9;12;22) was identified by M-FISH, which was detected as 46,XY,der(9)t(9;12) by classical cytogenetics; In a case of acute monocytic leukemia-M5, the complex chromosome abnormalities: 46,XY,der(2)t(2;17), der(10)t(10;11;17), der(11)t(11;?) was revealed by M-FISH, which was confirmed by CP and FISH, and mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene was also found involved in this complex chromosome translocation.
Conclusion: M-FISH was proved to be a powerful tool to examine the complicated karyotypes and hopefully to elucidate nearly all chromosomal aberrations in leukemia and other cancers.