The persistence of immunophenotypically normal residual bone marrow plasma cells at diagnosis identifies a good prognostic subgroup of symptomatic multiple myeloma patients.

Multiparameter flow cytometry immunophenotyping allows discrimination between normal (N-) and myelomatous (MM-) plasma cells (PCs) within the bone marrow plasma cell compartment (BMPCs). Here we report on the prognostic relevance of detecting more than 5% residual normal plasma cells from all bone marrow plasma cells (N-PCs/BMPCs) by multiparameter flow cytometry in a series of 594 newly diagnosed symptomatic MM patients, uniformly treated according to the Grupo Español de MM 2000 (GEM2000) protocol. Our results show that symptomatic MM patients with more than 5% N-PCs/BMPCs (n = 80 of 594; 14%) have a favorable baseline clinical prospect, together with a significantly lower frequency of high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities and higher response rates.

Multiparameter flow cytometric remission is the most relevant prognostic factor for multiple myeloma patients who undergo autologous stem cell transplantation.

Minimal residual disease (MRD) assessment is standard in many hematologic malignancies but is considered investigational in multiple myeloma (MM). We report a prospective analysis of the prognostic importance of MRD detection by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) in 295 newly diagnosed MM patients uniformly treated in the GEM2000 protocol VBMCP/VBAD induction plus autologous stem cell transplantation [ASCT]). MRD status by MFC was determined at day 100 after ASCT.

Evaluation of minimal residual disease in multiple myeloma patients by fluorescent-polymerase chain reaction: the prognostic impact of achieving molecular response.

This study aimed to standardize a simple molecular method for evaluating the response to treatment in multiple myeloma (MM) patients after high dose chemotherapy. Fifty three patients enrolled in the GEM2000 protocol were studied for minimal residual disease (MRD) using both fluorescent-polymerase chain reaction (F-PCR) and flow cytometry. Most patients had achieved complete remission or very good response after autologous stem cell transplantation.

Prognostic value of immunophenotyping in multiple myeloma: a study by the PETHEMA/GEM cooperative study groups on patients uniformly treated with high-dose therapy.

Purpose: To analyze the prognostic impact of immunophenotyping in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

Patients And Methods: We have prospectively analyzed the prognostic impact of antigenic markers, assessed by multiparametric flow cytometry, in a series of 685 newly diagnosed MM patients that were uniformly treated according to the GEM 2000 protocol.

Results: Our results show that expression of both CD19 and CD28 as well as the absence of CD117 were associated with a significantly shorter progression free-survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Genetic abnormalities and patterns of antigenic expression in multiple myeloma.

Myelomatous plasma cells show a high heterogeneity both in their immunophenotypic characteristics as well as in their cytogenetic features. Thus far, no extensive studies have been carried out to explore whether such antigenic diversity is associated with specific genetic characteristics. We have investigated the relationship between the immunophenotypic profile at plasma cell and both their DNA ploidy status (evaluated by flow cytometry) and specific genetic features (ascertained by fluorescence in situ hybridization) in a large series of 915 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.