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Test Code BALMF B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma (ALL), Specified FISH, Varies


Ordering Guidance


This test is intended for instances when limited B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes are needed based on specific abnormalities or abnormalities identified in the diagnostic sample. The FISH probes to be analyzed must be specified on the ordering request. If targeted FISH probes are not included with this test order, test processing will be delayed and the test may be canceled and automatically reordered by the laboratory as BALAF / B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma (ALL), FISH, Adult, Varies or BALFP / Pediatric B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma panel, FISH, Varies depending on the age of the patient.

 

At diagnosis, conventional cytogenetic studies (CHRBM / Chromosome Analysis, Hematologic Disorders, Bone Marrow) and a complete B-ALL FISH panel (either BALAF or BALFP) should be performed.

 

If a complete B-cell ALL FISH panel is preferred for an adult patient aged 31 years or older, order BALAF / B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma (ALL), FISH, Adult, Varies.

 

If a complete B-cell ALL FISH panel is preferred for a pediatric patient aged 30 years or younger, order BALFP / Pediatric B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma panel, FISH, Varies.

 

If this test is ordered and the laboratory is informed that the patient is on a Children's Oncology Group (COG) protocol, this test will be canceled and automatically reordered by the laboratory as COGBF / B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma (ALL), Children's Oncology Group Enrollment Testing, FISH, Varies.

 

If the patient clinically relapses, a conventional chromosome study may be useful to identify cytogenetic changes in the neoplastic clone or the possible emergence of a therapy-related myeloid clone.

 

For patients with B-cell lymphoma, order BLPMF / B-Cell Lymphoma, Specified FISH, Varies.

 

For testing paraffin-embedded tissue samples from patients with B-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (B-LBL), order BLBLF / B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma, FISH, Tissue. If a paraffin-embedded tissue sample is submitted for this test, this test will be canceled and BLBLF will be added and performed as the appropriate test.



Additional Testing Requirements


At diagnosis, conventional cytogenetic studies (CHRBM / Chromosome Analysis, Hematologic Disorders, Bone Marrow) and a complete BALAF / B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma (ALL), FISH, Adult, Varies or BALFP / Pediatric B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma panel, FISH, Varies should be performed, depending on patient's age. If there is limited specimen available, only fluorescence in situ hybridization testing will be performed.



Shipping Instructions


Advise Express Mail or equivalent if not on courier service.



Necessary Information


1. A list of probes requested for analysis is required. Probes available for this test are listed in the Testing Algorithm section.

2. A reason for testing must be provided. If this information is not provided, an appropriate indication for testing may be entered by Mayo Clinic Laboratories.

3. A flow cytometry and/or a bone marrow pathology report should be submitted with each specimen. The laboratory will not reject testing if this information is not provided, but appropriate testing and interpretation may be compromised or delayed.

4. If the patient has received an opposite sex bone marrow transplant, note this information on the request.

5. If the patient has Down syndrome, note this information on the request.



Specimen Required


Submit only 1 of the following specimens:

 

Preferred

Specimen Type: Bone marrow

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Yellow top (ACD)

Acceptable: Green top (sodium heparin) or lavender top (EDTA)

Specimen Volume: 2 to 3 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. It is preferable to send the first aspirate from the bone marrow collection.

2. Invert several times to mix bone marrow.

3. Send bone marrow specimen in original tube. Do not aliquot.

 

Acceptable

Specimen Type: Whole blood

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Yellow top (ACD)

Acceptable: Green top (sodium heparin) or lavender top (EDTA)

Specimen Volume: 6 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Invert several times to mix blood.

2. Send whole blood specimen in original tube. Do not aliquot.


Useful For

Detecting recurrent common chromosome abnormalities associated with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (B-ALL/LBL) and Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph-like ALL) using client-specified probe set(s)

 

An adjunct to conventional chromosome studies in patients with B-ALL/LBL

 

Evaluating specimens in which chromosome studies are unsuccessful

 

This test should not be used to screen for residual B-ALL/LBL

 

Identifying and tracking known chromosome abnormalities in patients with B-ALL and monitoring response to therapy

Method Name

Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH)

Reporting Name

ALL (B-cell), Specified FISH

Specimen Type

Varies

Specimen Minimum Volume

Bone marrow: 1 mL; Whole blood: 2 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Varies Ambient (preferred)
  Refrigerated 

Reject Due To

All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability.

Clinical Information

In the United States, the incidence of B-lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (B-ALL/LBL) is roughly 6000 new cases per year or approximately 1 in 50,000. B-ALL/LBL accounts for approximately 70% of all childhood leukemia cases (ages 0 to 19 years), making it the most common type of childhood cancer. It has a peak incidence at 2 to 5 years of age. This incidence decreases with age before increasing again at around age 50. B-ALL/LBL is slightly more common in male patients than female patients. There is also an increased incidence of B-ALL/LBL in individuals with genetic conditions such as Down syndrome, Fanconi anemia, Bloom syndrome, ataxia telangiectasia, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, X-linked agammaglobulinemia, and severe combined immunodeficiency. The overall cure rate for B-ALL/LBL in children is approximately 90%, and about 45% to 60% of adults have long-term disease-free survival. Of note, IGH::CRLF2 fusion is more commonly observed in patients with Down syndrome or of Hispanic descent.

 

Specific cytogenetic abnormalities are identified in most of cases of B-ALL/LBL, by conventional chromosome studies or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) studies. B-ALL genetic subgroups are important to detect and can be critical prognostic markers. For example, a decision for early transplantation may be made if BCR::ABL1 fusion, KMT2A rearrangement, iAMP21, or a hypodiploid clone is identified. In contrast, if the ETV6::RUNX1 fusion or hyperdiploidy is identified, the patient has a more favorable prognosis and transplantation is rarely initially considered.

 

A newly recognized World Health Organization entity called BCR-ABL1-like ALL, also known as Philadelphia chromosome-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is increasing in importance due to the poor prognosis seen in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult ALL. Common features of this entity involve rearrangements with tyrosine kinase genes involving the following genes: ABL2, PDGFRB, JAK2, ABL1, CRLF2, and P2RY8, as well as deletions involving IKZF1. Patients who have failed conventional therapies have demonstrated favorable responses to targeted therapies when rearrangements involving these specific gene regions have been identified.

 

Evaluation of the MYC gene region is included in all diagnostic pediatric B-ALL panels to evaluate for Burkitt lymphoma. If a positive result is obtained, additional testing for the BCL2 and BCL6 gene regions may be considered.

 

Per National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, a combination of cytogenetic and FISH testing is currently recommended in all pediatric and adult patients with B-ALL/lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL). Additional cytogenetic techniques such as chromosomal microarray (CMAH / Chromosomal Microarray, Hematologic Disorders, Varies) may be helpful to resolve questions related to ploidy (hyperdiploid clone vs doubled hypodiploid clone) or to resolve certain clonal structural rearrangements such as the presence or absence of intra-chromosomal amplification of chromosome 21 (iAMP21). A summary of the characteristic chromosome abnormalities identified in B-ALL is listed in the following table.

 

Table. Common Chromosome Abnormalities in B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Leukemia type

Cytogenetic change

Typical demographic

Risk category

B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma

 

t(12;21)(p13;q22), ETV6::RUNX1

Pediatric

Favorable

Hyperdiploidy

Pediatric

Favorable

t(1;19)(q23;p13.3), TCF3::PBX1

Pediatric

Intermediate to favorable

t(9;22)(q34;q11.2), BCR::ABL1

All ages

Unfavorable

iAMP21, RUNX1

Pediatric

Unfavorable

t(11q23;var), KMT2A rearrangement

All ages

Unfavorable

t(4;11)(q21;q23), KMT2A::AFF1

All ages

Unfavorable

t(6;11)(q27;q23), KMT2A::AFDN

All ages

Unfavorable

t(9;11)(p21.3;q23), KMT2A::MLLT3

All ages

Unfavorable

t(10;11)(p12;q23), KMT2A::MLLT10

All ages

Unfavorable

t(11;19)(q23;p13.3), KMT2A::MLLT1

All ages

Unfavorable

t(11;19)(q23;p13.1), KMT2A::ELL

All ages

Unfavorable

t(14q32;var), IGH rearrangement

All ages

Variable

t(X;14)(p22;q32)/t(Y;14)(p11;q32), IGH::CRLF2

Adolescent/ young adult

Unfavorable

t(Xp22.33;var) or t(Yp11.32;var), CRLF2 rearrangement

All ages

Unfavorable

t(Xp22.33;var) or t(Yp11.32;var), P2RY8 rearrangement

All ages

Unfavorable

t(8q24.21;var), MYC rearrangement
*representing Burkitt or other mature B-cell lymphoma

Pediatric/ adolescent/ young adult

Complex karyotype (≥4 abnormalities)

Adult

Unfavorable

Low hypodiploidy/near-triploidy

Adult

Unfavorable

Near-haploid/hypodiploid

All ages

Unfavorable

del(7p) IKZF1 deletion

All ages

Unfavorable in absence of ERG deletion

BCR::ABL1-like acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma

t(1q25;var), ABL2 rearrangement

Pediatric/ adolescent/ young adult

Unfavorable

t(5q32;var), PDGFRB  rearrangement

t(9p24.1;var), JAK2 rearrangement

t(9q34;var), ABL1 rearrangement

t(Xp22.33;var) or t(Yp11.32;var), CRLF2 rearrangement

t(Xp22.33;var) or t(Yp11.32;var), P2RY8 rearrangement

 

Reference Values

An interpretive report will be provided.

Day(s) Performed

Monday through Friday

Report Available

7 to 10 days

Performing Laboratory

Mayo Clinic Laboratories in Rochester

Test Classification

This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

CPT Code Information

88271 x2, 88275 x1, 88291 x1- FISH Probe, Analysis, Interpretation; 1 probe sets

88271 x2, 88275 x1 - FISH Probe, Analysis; each additional probe set (if appropriate)

88271 x1 -FISH Probe; coverage for sets containing 3 probes (if appropriate)

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Hematopathology/Cytogenetics Test Request (T726) with the specimen.