Scientific publications

Cytogenetic analysis of 280 patients with multiple myeloma and related disorders: primary breakpoints and clinical correlations

Feb 1, 1997 | Magazine: Genes, Choromosomes and Cancer

Calasanz MJ, Cigudosa JC, Odero MD, Ferreira C, Ardanaz MT, Fraile A, Carrasco JL, Solé F, Cuesta B, Gullón A.
Department of Genetics, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.


Cytogenetic analysis of unstimulated short-term bone marrow cell cultures was performed on 280 patients with multiple myeloma and related disorders. In 65% of the cases, an additional short term B-cell stimulated culture was also examined.

Chromosomally abnormal clones were found in 31% of the patients, 15% in Waldenström macroglobulinemia. 25% in monoclonal gammopathies, 33% in multiple myeloma, and 50% in plasma cell leukemia. Three primary chromosomal breakpoints were recurrently involved: 14q32, 16q22, and 22q11. Structural rearrangements of chromosome 1 were the most frequent (26% of the abnormal cases), but always as a secondary change. Rearrangements of band 14q32 were found in 22% of the abnormal cases.

Among the multiple myeloma patients who showed an abnormal karyotype, 33 (46%) were hyperdiploid, most frequently, with 52-56 chromosomes, 29 patients (40%) were pseudodiploid, and the remaining 12 cases (14%) were hypodiploid. A highly significant relation was observed between the presence of an abnormal karyotype and the following clinical parameters: stage III (P = 0.0001), bone marrow plasma cell infiltration greater than 30% (P = 0.0001), presence of bone lesions (P = 0.0009), and beta 2-microglobulin levels greater than 4 mg/L (P = 0.0001).

CITATION  Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 1997 Feb;18(2):84-93