The Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1 (FGFR1) gene, located on chromosome 8, was the first gene to be shown to become amplified in some breast cancers and it was thought that this was the causative factor in around 10% of such tumours. Amplification of the gene has been shown to provide a poor prognosis to patients because over-expression of the gene product can lead to early relapse . In common with other genetic defects in lymphoproliferative disorders like the BCR/ABL translocation in CML, the FGFR1 gene contains sequences that could code for a putative tyrosine kinase protein which has been implicated in a number of myeloproliferative diseases, marking out the importance of this gene in both solid tumours and cancers of the blood.

Cytocell has developed a three-colour combined breakapart and amplification FISH probe for FGFR1 which can be used in either bone marrow samples from myeloproliferative syndrome (EMS) patients or tissue sections in patients where the gene may be amplified. In EMS, the breakapart strategy will show the split of one of the two fusion signals along with a blue 8 centromere to enumerate chromosome 8. In patients that are being tested for amplifications of FGFR1, the un-translocated FGFR1 FISH signal will appear as a fusion probe and this fusion signal will appear amplified. The 8 centromere probe will also act as a control probe in these cases.

The FGFR1 probe enhances Cytocell’s already established range of pathology and haematology probes. If you are interested in sampling the probe please visit the distributor section of our website (www.cytocell.co.uk) to locate your local Cytocell representative.