Genomic aberrations in plasma cell leukemia shown by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization

Abstract Background Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare malignant plasma cell disorder that usually carries an aggressive course with a rapidly fatal outcome. Cytogenetic studies performed on plasma cell disorder are scarce and difficult because of the low proliferation rate of plasma cells. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis is an attractive alternative for evaluation of numerical and structural chromosomal changes in PCL. Methods Interphase FISH (I-FISH) and two different specific probes for the regions containing 13q14.3 (D13S319) or 14q32 (IGHC/IGHV) were used to detect 13q14 deletion [del(13q14)] or IgH rearrangement in 22 PCL patients. For patients with IgH rearrangement, probes for IgH(JH) and 11q13 (CCND1) or 4p16 (FGFR3) were used to detect t(11;14)(q13;q32) or t(4;14)(p16;q32). Results Molecular cytogenetic aberrations were found in 19 of 22 (86.4%) PCL patients. Del(13q14) was detected in 13 cases (59.1%), and IgH rearrangement in 17 (77.3%) patients including 7 with t(11;14) and 3 with t(4;14). 14q32 rearrangement and 13q14 deletion were found concurrently in 11 cases (50%). Conclusions Chromosomal abnormalities are frequent in PCL. The most frequent aberrations among the cases was the 14q32 rearrangement and 13q14 deletion. I-FISH technique is useful to detect molecular cytogenetic aberrations and should be used in the routine evaluation of PCL.

Download Full-text

The Ig Heavy Chain Gene Is Frequently Involved in Chromosomal Translocations in Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Leukemia as Detected by In Situ Hybridization

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v90.2.526 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 90 (2) ◽

pp. 526-534 ◽

Cited By ~ 138

Author(s):

Kazuhiro Nishida ◽

Akiko Tamura ◽

Naozo Nakazawa ◽

Yutaka Ueda ◽

Tatsuo Abe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Myeloma ◽

In Situ Hybridization ◽

Plasma Cell ◽

Heavy Chain ◽

Plasma Cell Leukemia ◽

Critical Event ◽

Chain Gene ◽

Cell Leukemia ◽

Ig Heavy Chain

Abstract Chromosome rearrangement of 14q32.33 has recurrently occurred with variable partner sites, including 11q13.3, 8q24.1, 18q21.3, and 6p21.1 in multiple myeloma (MM). To assess the actual incidence of 14q32.33 translocation and to elucidate its implication in the pathogenesis of MM, we studied 42 patients with MM, plasma cell leukemia, or plasmacytoma and 5 with monoclonal gammopathy with undetermined significance (MGUS) by G-banding and molecular cytogenetic methods. Using double-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (DCFISH) with 2 Ig heavy chain (IgH) gene probes, a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clone containing variable region, and a phage clone containing γ constant region, 14q32.33 translocation was detected as split signals of the IgH gene in 31 patients with plasma cell malignancies and 3 with MGUS. In contrast, of 40 patients who were assessed by G-banding, 3 (7.5%) showed the 14q+ chromosome. DCFISH detected a split of the IgH gene on interphase nuclei in 34 (73.9%) of 46 patients analyzed, whereas on metaphase spreads, it was in 22 (51.2%) of 43 patients analyzed. Interphase DCFISH was particularly useful to detect 14q32.33 translocation in 17 (65.4%) of 26 patients with normal karyotypes. Donor sites were identified in 11 of 22 patients demonstrated as carrying 14q32.33 translocation by metaphase FISH. Chromosome t(11; 14)(q13.3; q32.33) was detected in 5 patients, t(8; 14)(q24.1; q32.33) in 2, t(14; 18)(q32.33; q21.3) in 2, and t(7; 14)(q32.1; q32.33) in 1. A complex 14q32.33 translocation involving 3q and 16q24 was detected in 1 patient. Myeloma cells with t(7; 14) showed myelomonocytoid surface antigen. Because rearrangements of 14q32.33 were closely associated with translocation of proto-oncogenes into the IgH gene, our findings indicate that 14q32.33 translocation with various partner chromosomes is a critical event in the pathogenesis of MM and MGUS.

Download Full-text

The Ig Heavy Chain Gene Is Frequently Involved in Chromosomal Translocations in Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Leukemia as Detected by In Situ Hybridization

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v90.2.526.526_526_534 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 90 (2) ◽

pp. 526-534 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Kazuhiro Nishida ◽

Akiko Tamura ◽

Naozo Nakazawa ◽

Yutaka Ueda ◽

Tatsuo Abe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiple Myeloma ◽

In Situ Hybridization ◽

Plasma Cell ◽

Heavy Chain ◽

Plasma Cell Leukemia ◽

Critical Event ◽

Chain Gene ◽

Cell Leukemia ◽

Ig Heavy Chain

Chromosome rearrangement of 14q32.33 has recurrently occurred with variable partner sites, including 11q13.3, 8q24.1, 18q21.3, and 6p21.1 in multiple myeloma (MM). To assess the actual incidence of 14q32.33 translocation and to elucidate its implication in the pathogenesis of MM, we studied 42 patients with MM, plasma cell leukemia, or plasmacytoma and 5 with monoclonal gammopathy with undetermined significance (MGUS) by G-banding and molecular cytogenetic methods. Using double-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (DCFISH) with 2 Ig heavy chain (IgH) gene probes, a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clone containing variable region, and a phage clone containing γ constant region, 14q32.33 translocation was detected as split signals of the IgH gene in 31 patients with plasma cell malignancies and 3 with MGUS. In contrast, of 40 patients who were assessed by G-banding, 3 (7.5%) showed the 14q+ chromosome. DCFISH detected a split of the IgH gene on interphase nuclei in 34 (73.9%) of 46 patients analyzed, whereas on metaphase spreads, it was in 22 (51.2%) of 43 patients analyzed. Interphase DCFISH was particularly useful to detect 14q32.33 translocation in 17 (65.4%) of 26 patients with normal karyotypes. Donor sites were identified in 11 of 22 patients demonstrated as carrying 14q32.33 translocation by metaphase FISH. Chromosome t(11; 14)(q13.3; q32.33) was detected in 5 patients, t(8; 14)(q24.1; q32.33) in 2, t(14; 18)(q32.33; q21.3) in 2, and t(7; 14)(q32.1; q32.33) in 1. A complex 14q32.33 translocation involving 3q and 16q24 was detected in 1 patient. Myeloma cells with t(7; 14) showed myelomonocytoid surface antigen. Because rearrangements of 14q32.33 were closely associated with translocation of proto-oncogenes into the IgH gene, our findings indicate that 14q32.33 translocation with various partner chromosomes is a critical event in the pathogenesis of MM and MGUS.

Download Full-text