Non-random chromosomal rearrangements and their implications in clinical features and outcome of multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia

Rearrangements of bands 14q32.3 and 19p13.3 and preferential deletion of the short arm of chromosome 1 were nonrandom chromosomal abnormalities in MM and PCL, warranting further investigation at the molecular level. From the viewpoint of clinical relevance, chromosome 14q32 translocation seems to be associated with leukemic manifestation, level of LDH, and shorter survival period from the time of chromosomal analysis. However, these results were obtained from patients with advanced disease, most of whom had already been treated with alkylating agents prior to cytogenetic analysis. To investigate the karyotypes of MM in the early stage and to determine correlations with clinical features, non-dividing cells should be analyzed, For this purpose, interphase FISH and/or comparative genomic hybridization are promising procedures to detect genomic alterations in early multiple myeloma.