Simultaneous Phenotypic and Genotypic Studies of Individual Mitotic Cells - Methods and Practical Applications

Recently established techniques for simultaneous immunological and cytogenetic characterization of mitotic cell populations have opened further possibilities for the classification of certain cells in haematological neoplasias. These techniques have been termed MAC (morphology-antibody- chromosomes). Several staining procedures e.g. immunogold, immunofluorescence or immunoenzymatic techniques for simultaneous and/or consecutive cytogenetic analyses have been established and were applied for certain investigations. The advantages and disadvantages of these methods are discussed, as well as th: results which have been published until now, and future aspects of these techniques.