Both hypodiploidy and deletion of chromosome 13 independently confer poor prognosis in multiple myeloma.

Complete or partial deletion of chromosome 13 or translocations involving 13q (delta13) by conventional cytogenetic analysis confers a poor prognosis in multiple myeloma (MM) patients, even with timely application of tandem autologous transplants. It was recently suggested that the prognostic significance of delta13 is related to its frequent association with hypodiploidy but by itself does not have a poor prognostic significance. We therefore analysed our experience in 1475 consecutive MM patients in whom we intended treatment with tandem transplants after a melphalan-based conditioning regimen.