Detection of risk-identifying chromosomal abnormalities and genomic profiling by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

We performed genomic profiling using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) in 54 cases with suspected or advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). MLPA detected abnormalities when the percentage of mutated cells was greater than approximately 35%. Loss of 9p21 CDNK2A/B was revealed. MLPA is an economically attractive, powerful tool in trial-based, centralized risk-assessment for CLL.