Integrated TCRγ Clonality Workflow for Molecular Diagnosis in HTLV-1 Carriers and Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma.

Background/

Objectives

T-cell receptor gamma (TCRγ) clonality testing by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is an important ancillary method in the diagnostic evaluation of T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Interpretation is particularly challenging in HTLV-1 infection, in which persistent antigenic stimulation may produce clonal or oligoclonal T-cell expansions overlapping with non-neoplastic patterns. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic performance and interpretative contribution of two EuroClonality/BIOMED-2 assays (TCRγ-A and TCRγ-B), considered complementary components of the same analytical panel, and a single-tube multiplex PCR assay (TCRγ-O), and to develop an integrated workflow for TCRγ clonality interpretation.

Methods

A total of 107 peripheral blood samples were analyzed, including 19 healthy donors, 75 HTLV-1 carriers, and 13 patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL). TCRγ clonality was evaluated using three multiplex PCR assays followed by capillary electrophoresis. Profiles were classified as polyclonal, oligoclonal, or monoclonal. Diagnostic performance analysis was performed using healthy donors as the reference negative group and ATLL patients as the reference positive group.

Results

The combined EuroClonality approach (TCRγ-A+B) showed the highest sensitivity (100%), whereas TCRγ-O showed the highest specificity (94.7%). TCRγ-A and TCRγ-B each showed a sensitivity of 76.9%, with specificities of 84.2% and 78.9%, respectively. Classification was highly concordant in healthy donors and ATLL patients employing both assays. However, among HTLV-1 carriers, classification varied across the assays. The integrated workflow was associated with a significant change in the distribution of molecular classification patterns in the HTLV-1 group compared with EuroClonality-based interpretation alone. (Stuart-Maxwell, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The EuroClonality/BIOMED-2 strategy provided greater sensitivity, whereas TCRγ-O showed greater specificity. Their integration supported a complementary and hierarchical approach to TCRγ clonality assessment, particularly in HTLV-1 infection. These findings support an exploratory integrated framework for TCRγ clonality interpretation in HTLV-1 infection and ATLL, requiring validation in larger independent cohorts.