[Detection of residual disease: analysis of the gene arrangement of immunoglobulins and T-cell antigen receptors].

T and B cells specifically recognize antigens using a receptor located at the cell surface. The repertoire of lymphoid cells chiefly results from somatic rearrangements involving the variable segments of the genes encoding these receptors. The modifications of the DNA structure induced by these rearrangements are found in all cells of the same clone. Immunoglobulin (Ig) or T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements are usually found in most lymphomas as well as in B or T lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemias. Thus, the study of Ig or TCR gene rearrangement could be useful in the detection of minimal disease in such malignancies. However the sensitivity of molecular hybridization on Southern blots is still not a sensible enough technique to be used in clinical practice.