[Application of gene technology to clinical pathology]

Recently striking progress has been made in molecular biology. Among the newly developed techniques, PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is making an epoch in DNA diagnosis in the field of clinical pathology and laboratory medicine. In this symposium, we discussed the available PCR methods in DNA diagnosis and also the future prospect of PCR method as a routine laboratory procedure. First, Dr. Kawabata reviewed the PCR technique and analytical procedures of PCR products. Next five symposium presented the data on DNA diagnosis for particular diseases using the PCR method. Dr. Hasebe presented the HCV genotyping data from the patients. Dr. Hirose showed us the difference in accuracy in DNA typing of Chlamydia trachomatis antigen between the DNA probe method and PCR method. He also introduced the newly developed LCR method. Dr. Kondo reviewed the methods of DNA diagnosis for malignant lymphoma. Dr. Yaginuma presented the analyzed data of tumor suppressor gene p53 in some gynecological tumors. Dr. Azuma presented a case of chronic granulomatosis with a point mutation on the gp91-phox gene which had been revealed by RT-PCR. Next Dr. Yagihashi introduced the protocol for DNA typing of the HLA class II. Finally, Dr. Tanaka presented the availability of the PCR method for the convalescent screening of bone marrow transplantation. We hope this symposium is fruitful and motivating for all staffs of laboratory medicine and pathology. In closing my remarks, I express our appreciation to all symposists as well as Prof. Hisami Ikeda, president of the 27th general meeting of the Hokkaido branch, the Society of Clinical Pathology, planned this symposium.