Bcl-2 protein expression is not related to short survival in multiple myeloma.
The oncoprotein bcl-2 can be expressed in malignant plasma cells and might play a role in the prevention of corticosteroid-mediated apoptosis, thereby prolonging survival of the myeloma cells. We retrospectively investigated whether bcl-2 expression in bone marrow plasma cells measured by two-color fluorescence for immunoglobulin light chains would be related to survival duration in patients suffering from multiple myeloma. In all patients the large majority of plasma cells expressed bcl-2 (median 91%, range 74-100%). Contrary to our expectations, a tendency was observed toward higher percentages bcl-2+ plasma cells in patients with a long survival (more than 5 years, n = 9) vs patients who died from refractory myeloma within a year of diagnosis (n = 7). This tendency was found even when analysis was extended to include four patients in the short diagnosis group (n = 11) who had received chemotherapy prior to bone marrow examination.
Ong
F
F
Comprehensive Cancer Centre West, Leiden, The Netherlands.
van Nieuwkoop
J A
JA
de Groot-Swings
G M
GM
Hermans
J
J
Harvey
M S
MS
Kluin
P M
PM
Kluin-Nelemans
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2