Method for diagnosis of monoclonality in leukaemia and lymphoma

A method for the detection of T-cell lymphoid leukemia or T-cell lymphoma in a tissue sample which comprises:

• (a) amplifying the T-receptor gene segments in said tissue sample by the polymerase chain reaction using at least one pair of primers specific for said T-receptor gene segments, wherein said T-receptor gene segments comprise at least one of a V-D, D-J and J-C junction;
• (b) separating the amplified T-receptor gene segments by size;
• (c) detecting said size-separated amplified T-receptor gene fragments;
• and
• (d) determining the homogeneity or heterogeneity of said amplified T-receptor gene segments wherein homogeneity is indicative of T-cell lymphoid leukemia or T-cell lymphoma.

A method for determining the T-cell or B-cell origin of a lymphoma or leukemia in a tissue sample which comprises:

• (a) amplifying the immunoglobulin and T-receptor gene segments in said tissue sample by the polymerase chain reaction using at least one pair of primers specific for said immunoglobulin gene segment and at least one pair of primers specific for said T-receptor gene segments, wherein said immunoglobulin gene segments and T-receptor gene segments each comprise at least one of a V-D, D-J and J-C junction;
• (b) separating the amplified immunoglobulin and T-receptor gene segments by size;
• (c) detecting said size-separated amplified immunoglobulin and T-receptor gene fragments;
• and
• (d) determining the homogeneity or heterogeneity of said amplified T-receptor immunoglobulin gene segments wherein homogeneity of T-receptor gene segments is indicative of T-cell origin of said lymphoma or leukemia and homogeneity of immunoglobulin gene segments is indicative of B-cell origin of said lymphoma or leukemia.