Detection of 13q deletion in multiple myeloma using immunomagnetically selected plasma cells

Abstract

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a tumour characterised by terminally differentiated plasma cells. Since plasma cell turnover is considerably slower than that of non-malignant bone marrow cells, it is to be expected that the majority of mitotic cells in cultures from MM patients will represent normal marrow elements. 1 Recent studies based on interphase fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) have shown that virtually all MM patients have chromosomal abnormalities in their plasma cells. 2,3 Deletions of 13q14 have been detected in 30-50%