title: Impact of genetic abnormalities on the prognoses and clinical parameters of patients with multiple myeloma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We reviewed patients with multiple myeloma (MM) in order to assess the incidence of genetic abnormalities and their associations with clinical parameters, risk groups, and prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 130 patients with MM were enrolled. The incidences of genetic abnormalities were determined in all patients. The relationships of the genetic abnormalities and clinical parameters were investigated. In addition, a survival analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abnormal karyotypes were detected in 42.3% (N=55) of the patients, and this was increased to 63.1% (N=82) after including the results determined with interphase FISH. Hypodiploidy was observed in 7.7% (N=10) of the patients, and all were included in the group with complex karyotypes (30.8%, N=40). The 14q32 rearrangements were detected in 29.2% (N=38) of the patients, and these most commonly included t(11;14), which was followed by t(4;14) and t(14;16) (16.2%, 11.5%, and 0.8%, respectively). Abnormal karyotypes and complex karyotypes were associated with disease progression markers, including low hemoglobin levels, low platelet counts, high plasma cell burden, high β2-microglobulin, and high international staging system stages. A high free light chain (FLC) ratio and FLC difference were associated with abnormal karyotypes, complex karyotypes, and higher plasma cell burden. Hypodiploidy and low platelet counts were significant independent prognostic factors and were more important in patient outcome than any single abnormality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genetic abnormalities were associated with disease progression markers and prognosis of MM patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Catholic Genetic Laboratory Center, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Wook
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Jekarl
authors.forename: Chang-Ki
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Ahlm
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Hyunjung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyojin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Myungshin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jihyang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Yonggoo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyungja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010976:Platelet Count; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins
keywords: Cytogenetics; Fluorescence in situ hybridization; Free light chain; Multiple myeloma