Heavy chain loss after treatment with Melphalan in a patient with "nonsecretory" myeloma.
A case of "nonsecretory" myeloma is described. The patient had typical osteolytic lesions and marked infiltration of myeloma cells in the bone marrow, and plasma cell leukemia. A good partial remission was obtained with Melphalan, but the patient relapsed and died one year later. Immunofluorescent and immunoelectroscopic studies on the myeloma cells demonstrated the presence of cytoplasmic gamma-and kappa-chains at the initial stage and of only kappa-chains at a relapse. The electron microscopic method for polysome analysis indicated that both L-and H-chains were synthesized on membrane-bound polysomes initially, but the ability to produce H-chain was missing at the relapse.
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008558:Melphalan / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011132:Polyribosomes
D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D008558:Melphalan