Simultaneous detection of MYC, BVR1, and PVT1 translocations in lymphoid malignancies by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

The rapid detection of chromosome band 8q24 rearrangements, including classical translocations involving MYC and variant 3' translocations, is important for the accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment of lymphoid malignancies. We have identified and characterized a CEPH YAC, 934e1, which extends from at least 190 kbp upstream to over 280 kbp downstream to MYC, allowing detection of classical t(8; 14)(q24;q32) and variant t(8;22)(q24;q11) and t(8;14)(q24;q11), extending distal to PVT1 and therefore, by extrapolation, to BVR1. This YAC also allowed clarification of complex chromosome 8 abnormalities and the identification of translocations in interphase nuclei. A second CEPH YAC, 904c3, previously shown to contain the PVT1 locus but not MYC, allowed distinction between translocations occurring centromeric and telomeric to MYC. Use of the 934e1 YAC will aid classification of a variety of lymphoid proliferations and further characterization of rearranged cases with the 904c3 YAC will simplify mapping of their diverse breakpoints.