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F

FISH = Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization

*Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) = a cytogenetic test that is used to reveal the presence of the “bcr-abl” gene. The abl DNA shows up as a red dot in the microscope slide and bcr DNA shows as a green dot (see http://path.upmc.edu/cases/case171/mole.html for a nice picture). In the nuclei of normal cells, where abl and bcr are on different chromosomes, these dots appear separately. But in Ph+ leukemic cells where bcr and abl are fused, the dots appear together. If you see RedGreen the cell is Ph+, while Red——-Green (that is, they’re far apart) is Ph-, normal.

*Functional cure = continued long term therapy that prevents progression of CML and the emergence of resistance is currently considered a functional or “operational” cure