ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most prevalent leukaemia in the Western Hemisphere. Cytogenetic abnormalities in CLL are used for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. However, detecting these is difficult because mature B cells do not readily divide in culture. Here, we present data on two mitogen cocktails: CpG-oligonucleotide DSP30/Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and DSP30/IL-2 in combination with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). METHODS: We analysed 165 cases of CLL with FISH and cytogenetics from January 2011 to June 2013. In 2011, three cultures were set-up: unstimulated, DSP30/IL-2-stimulated and TPA-stimulated. In 2012-2013, two cultures were set-up: unstimulated and stimulated with TPA/DSP30/IL-2. RESULTS: In 2011, FISH had a detection rate of 91% and cytogenetics using DSP30/IL2 had a detection rate of 91% (n = 22). In 2012-2013, FISH had a detection rate of 79% and cytogenetics using TPA/DSP30/IL-2 had a detection rate of 98% (n = 40). The percentage of cases with normal FISH but abnormal cytogenetics increased from 9% in 2011 to 21% in 2012-2013. The TPA/DSP30/IL-2 cultures in 2012-2013 detected more novel abnormalities (n = 5) as compared to DSP30/IL-2 alone (n = 3). CONCLUSIONS: TPA/DSP30/IL2 was as good as or better than DSP30/IL2 alone. TPA/DSP30/IL-2 offers a high detection rate for CLL abnormalities with a single stimulated culture and may increase detection of clinically significant abnormalities.
