Abstract
I-FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization on interphasic nuclei) represents a laboratory method linking morphological investigations (histological sections of formaldehyde fixed and paraffin embedded tissues) with molecular techniques (sequence specificity of nucleic acids bases for a certain locus). I-FISH is relatively undemanding for a laboratory workout, but offering a lot of important information about the investigated cells.
Within a scope of pathology departments I-FISH is utilized mostly in diagnostics of neoplasms. I-FISH is helpful in detecting gene copy numbers (amplifications or deletions), and, importantly, in establishing copy numbers of individual chromosomes (polysomies or monosomies), chromosomal breaks and translocations.
At present, I-FISH is used not only for diagnosis and estimation of prognosis, but also as a method to qualify a patient for a targeted biological therapy. Because demands on investigation of solid tumors keep raising I-FISH becomes a part of routine investigations.
The aim of this paper is to summarize principles and the utility of I-FISH and to help the interested readers in finding a basic orientation in this laboratory method.