Rapid detection of the MYD88 L265P mutation for pre‐ and intra‐operative diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma

The myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MYD88) L265P mutation is a disease‐specific mutation of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) among the central nervous system tumors. Accordingly, this mutation is considered a reliable diagnostic molecular marker of PCNSL. As the intra‐operative diagnosis of PCNSL is sometimes difficult to achieve using histological examinations alone, intra‐operative detection of the MYD88 L265P mutation could be effective for the accurate diagnosis of PCNSL. Herein, we aimed to develop a novel rapid genotyping system (GeneSoC) using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on microfluidic thermal cycling technology. This real‐time PCR system shortened the analysis time, which enabled the detection of the MYD88 L265P mutation within 15 min. Rapid detection of the MYD88 L265P mutation was performed intra‐operatively using GeneSoC in 24 consecutive cases with suspected malignant brain tumors, including 10 cases with suspected PCNSL before surgery. The MYD88 L265P mutation was detected in eight cases in which tumors were pathologically diagnosed as PCNSL after the operation, while wild‐type MYD88 was detected in 16 cases. Although two of the 16 cases with wild‐type MYD88 were pathologically diagnosed as PCNSL after the operation, MYD88 L265P could be detected in all eight PCNSL cases harboring MYD88 L265P. The MYD88 L265P mutation could also be detected using cell‐free DNA derived from the cerebrospinal fluid of two PCNSL cases. Detection of the MYD88 L265P mutation using GeneSoC might not only improve the accuracy of intra‐operative diagnosis of PCNSL but also help the future pre‐operative diagnosis through liquid biopsy of cerebrospinal fluid.