title: Prognostic impact of serum immunoglobulin heavy/light chain ratio in patients with multiple myeloma in complete remission after autologous stem cell transplantation.
abstract: Immunoglobulin heavy/light chain (HLC) ratios were studied in 37 patients with multiple myeloma in complete remission after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Increased IgAκ/IgAλ and IgMκ/IgMλ ratios were associated with longer progression-free survival (P = .006 and .01, respectively). A statistical trend toward a longer overall survival was also observed for the IgAκ/IgAλ ratio (P = .068). Considering the original immunoglobulin isotype, our results indicate that an increased κ/λ ratio of the uninvolved isotype is associated with longer progression-free survival and overall survival. This is the first report demonstrating the association between the HLC ratio and sustained complete remission in patients with multiple myeloma. Our results suggest that the HLC ratio is a surrogate marker of immune recovery after myeloablative transplantation, rather than as a marker of minimal residual disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Amyloidosis and Myeloma Unit, Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tovar
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernández de Larrea
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elena
authors.forename: M Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cibeira
authors.forename: Juan I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Aróstegui
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosiñol
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Filella
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yagüe
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bladé
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000097:blood*; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000097:blood*; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000097:blood*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents