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Detection
of monoclonal B cells:
 Detection
of small numbers of circulating monoclonal B lymphocytes by Flow Cytometry.
The "B Cell Clonal Excess" assay (sometimes referred to as a "kappa-lambda
analysis" was devised by Dr.
Kenneth Ault). It is a powerful tool for detecting and further
biologically characterizing minimal residual disease in the lymphomas;
because of the limitations inherent in using PCR for detection of
B cell clonality in the lymphomas, it may be more sensitive than that
technique. However, it is important to recognize that monoclonality
does not a cancer make. Many disorders may be characterized as "MOLUS
(monoclonal and oligoclonal lymphoproliferations of unknown significance)".
For more information, see:
- Smith
BR, Weinberg DS, Robert NJ, Towle M, Luther E, Pinkus GS, Ault
KA. 1984. Circulating Monoclonal B Lymphocytes in Non-Hodgkin's
Lymphoma. N Engl J Med 311:1476-1481.
- Berliner
N, Smith BR. 1994. The Pathobiology of Lymphoproliferative Disease.
In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Shattil SJ, Furie B, Cohen HJ (eds): "Hematology:
Basic Principles and Practice, 2nd Edition" (New York: Churchill
Livingstone), pp. 1193-1213.
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