ZytoLight ® SPEC MYC/IGH Dual Color Dual Fusion Probe

The ZytoLight ® SPEC MYC/IGH Dual Color Dual Fusion Probe is designed to detect the translocation t(8;14)(q24;q32) affecting the MYC gene in the chromosomal region 8q24.21 and the IGH locus in 14q32.33. The MYC proto-oncogene (v-myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog, a.k.a. CMYC) encodes a transcription factor essential for cell growth and proliferation and is broadly implicated in tumorigenesis. Translocations involving the MYC gene are considered to be cytogenetic hallmarks for Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) but are also found in other types of lymphomas. The most frequent translocation involving the MYC gene region t(8;14) (q24.21;q32.3) can be found in approx. 80% of the BL cases and juxtaposes the MYC gene next to the IgH (immunoglobulin heavy chain) locus. Further translocations affecting the MYC gene are t(8;22)(q24.21;q11.2) and t(2;8) (p11.2;q24.21), both of which involve one of the two immunoglobulin light chain loci. All three translocations bring the MYC gene under the control of a regulatory element from one of the immunoglobulin loci resulting in constitutive overexpression of MYC. The identification of MYC specific rearrangements is a critical part of the diagnostic work-up and management of patients, identifying those who will benefit from the intensive therapeutic regimens used to treat BL. Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) which allows the correlation with immunochemistry can be critical to patient management and is an approach commonly used.