title: P53 deletion is not a frequent event in multiple myeloma.
abstract: Recently a high incidence of interstitial deletion of the P53 locus has been reported in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Considering the importance of such an event, we analysed 79 patients with advanced-stage disease using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Strikingly, we found only 7/79 patients with a P53 deletion. In order to rule out any differences in probe selection, we reanalysed all the patients with the same probe as that used in a previous study, and confirmed the low incidence of P53 deletion (7/79, 9%). The only explanation is a difference in hybridization efficiency. Since hybridization is far less efficient on malignant plasma cells than on other bone marrow cells we suggest that this poor hybridization efficiency may lead to a false P53 deletion.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Haematology, University Hospital, Lille, France.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Avet-Loiseau
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Godon
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morineau
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daviet
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Harousseau
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Facon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bataille
mesh_terms: D017353:Gene Deletion; D016158:Genes, p53 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000235:genetics*