Serum thymidine kinase and beta-2 microglobulin in monoclonal gammopathies

We evaluated the serum thymidine kinase (TK) and beta-2 microglobulin (beta-2) levels of 22 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and of 29 patients with multiple myeloma (MM). Both parameters were significantly lower in MGUS than in MM patients and in early (stage I + II) than in advanced (stage III) MM. TK was also lower in MGUS than in stage I MM (p less than 0.025). A seven-fold increase of TK level was documented in one patient who developed a full blown picture of MM 6 years after a diagnosis of MGUS. In 3 patients with stage III MM, a sharp decrease in TK (40-77%) and in beta-2 (29-53%) levels at remission was evident with respect to the levels measured at diagnosis. Patients with high levels of TK or beta-2 had a shorter survival than those with low levels; however, this was statistically significant only for beta-2 levels (p less than 0.02). Serum TK as well as beta-2 levels appear to be of clinical value in monoclonal gammopathies and related to the course of the disease.     

Mutant p53 protein in the serum of patients with cervical carcinoma: correlation with the level of serum epidermal growth factor receptor and prognostic significance

We have previously reported that the serum level of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was significantly elevated in 38 cervical carcinoma patients. The levels of mutant p53 protein were determined in the serum of the same cohort (invasive or recurrent carcinoma: 26, carcinoma in situ (CIS): 12) and 18 controls using ELISA. The median serum level for mutant p53 in cervical carcinoma patients (0.11 ng/ml; range, 0-2.66 ng/ml) demonstrated no significant difference compared to that of controls (0.14 ng/ml; range, 0-0.34 ng/ml) (P=0.324). Serum mutant p53 showed positive elevation in 5 patients with invasive or recurrent carcinoma (19%) and 1 with CIS (8%). A significant correlation was found between EGFR and mutant p53 levels (r=0.668; P<0.0001). In invasive or recurrent cervical carcinoma, positive mutant p53 was significantly associated with poor overall survival in both univariate (P=0.035) and multivariate (P=0.046) analysis, while increased level of EGFR did not show prognostic significance (P=0.755). Serum mutant p53 could have potential usefulness as a biological marker of cervical carcinoma for prediction of prognosis and follow-up after treatment.     

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and multiple myeloma are associated with an increased incidence of venothromboembolic disease

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolic disease (VTD) is a recently recognized complication of thalidomide in combination therapy for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The authors assessed the frequency of VTD and its risk factors in 612 consecutive patients with plasma cell dyscrasia (PCD) who were evaluated and followed from 1991 to 2001. METHODS: In the current study, 404 patients were diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM), 174 with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and 34 with other forms (excluding amyloidosis). Univariable correlates of VTD were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards analysis. RESULTS: The authors identified several univariable correlates of VTD in patients with MGUS, including a family and medical history of VTD, immobility, low serum albumin level, and high leukocyte count. Patients with MGUS with immunoglobulin (Ig) G monoclonal immunoglobulin were found to be less prone to develop VTD. In patients with MM, a family and medical history of VTD and the presence of a hypercoagulable state were factors identified in univariable analysis to be associated with an increased risk of VTD. In patients with MM, for each unit increase in serum albumin, the risk of VTD was lower. The type of the treatment regimen did not appear to correlate with the development of VTD. CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, the risk for thromboembolic diseases among patients with PCD was increased compared with the risk in the general population. Further studies are necessary to define the mechanisms involved.     

Serum bone sialoprotein as a marker of tumour burden and neoplastic bone involvement and as a prognostic factor in multiple myeloma

To test the potential of immunoreactive BSP, a non-collagenous bone matrix component, as a clinical guide in patients with plasma cell dyscrasias, serum BSP concentrations were measured in 62 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) followed over a period of 4 years, in 46 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), in 71 patients with untreated benign vertebral osteoporosis (OPO), and in 139 healthy adults. Results were compared with clinical and laboratory data, including serum osteocalcin (OC), and urinary pyridinoline (PYD) and deoxypyridinoline (DPD) as markers of bone turnover. In MM, serum BSP, and urinary PYD and DPD were higher than in healthy controls and in MGUS or OPO (P< 0.001). BSP levels correlated with the bone marrow plasma cell content (r = 0.40, P< 0.001), and serum beta2-microglobulin (r = 0.31, P < 0.01). The differentiation of MM from healthy controls and from MGUS or OPO was highest for BSP. After chemotherapy, BSP reflected the response to treatment and correlated with the change in monoclonal protein (r = 0.55, P< 0.001). MM patients with normal baseline BSP levels survived longer than patients with initially elevated BSP values (P< 0.001, log rank test). Only serum monoclonal protein and BSP were independent predictors of survival. We conclude that in MM, BSP levels are associated with skeletal involvement and tumour cell burden. The quantification of serum BSP may be a non-invasive method for the diagnosis and follow-up, and may improve the prognostic value of conventional staging in MM.     

Monoclonal Gammopathies After Renal Transplantation: A Single-center Study

IntroductionPlasma cell disorders (PCDs) are clonal plasma cell disorders that include conditions such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS), multiple myeloma (MM), smoldering MM (SMM), solitary plasmacytoma, and light-chain (AL) amyloidosis. The risk factors associated with and the clinical course of PCDs after renal transplantation is not well established although immunosuppressive protocols may impact the incidence and natural history of PCDs posttransplant.Patients and MethodsThis single-center retrospective study evaluated patients with a history of renal transplant who developed a PCD between January 1, 2014-December 31, 2018.ResultA total of 41 patients met the inclusion criteria including 29 with MGUS and 12 with symptomatic PCD (4 with MM, 2 with SMM, 4 with MGRS, 1 with AL amyloidosis, and 1 with solitary plasmacytoma). The median follow-up of survivors was 41.6 months. Three patients (1 with MGUS and 2 with MGRS) progressed to MM during the follow-up period. There was a male preponderance in both groups. There was no correlation between the donor and immunosuppressive regimen and the development of a PCD. Patients with symptomatic PCD had higher serum creatinine and M-protein levels at diagnosis and higher free light chain ratio and plasma cell burden. There was also a higher percentage of allograft failure noted in the symptomatic PCD subset 50% (n = 6), whereas only 23% (n = 7) of patients had allograft failure in the MGUS group.ConclusionThis study shows the importance of considering monoclonal gammopathy in the differential of renal dysfunction after kidney transplant and the need to follow these patients closely to monitor for progression to symptomatic PCD.     

Prognostic Value of IL-10 and Its Relationship with Disease Stage in Iranian Patients with Multiple Myeloma

Background: Several studies have demonstrated roles of interleukins in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM). Objective: Here we considered correlations among serum levels of IL-10, stage of disease and clinical laboratory disease markers in Iranian MM patients to investigate whether the interleukin might have prognostic significance. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 60 subjects (40 patients and 20 controls) were recruited. After preliminary laboratory tests, disease stage was evaluated and serum levels of IL-10 were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: The mean concentration of serum IL-10 in patients (2.39±0.82 ng/ ml) was significantly higher (p<0.0001) than that in healthy controls (0.34±0.15 ng/ml). A positive and significant correlation (p<0.0001) was observed with the disease stage. The highest plasma cell proportions were recorded for MM stage III patients (68.8±9.21%), differing significantly from those of stage I patients (50.0±10.0%; p=0.011). The Beta-2 microglobulin value in stage III patients (7.7±1.13mg/l) was significantly higher than in those with stage II (4.31±0.64 mg/l; p<0.0001) and stage I (2.8±0.4 mg/l; p<0.0001). There was also a positive and significant correlation (p=0.002) between IL-10 levels and B2M. A trend (p=0.06) for positive correlation was observed between IL-10 levels and plasma cells. Conclusions: The correlation of IL-10 with disease stage and markers of disease activity indicates important roles in MM pathogenesis and progression. Therefore, measurement of serum IL-10 might be helpful for predicting stage and clinical management of MM.     

Serum transforming growth factor-β1 is related to the degree of immunoparesis in patients with multiple myeloma

The expansion of myeloma celis is regulated by cytokines, among which !L-6 is a major growth factor, it has been recently suggested that serum transforming growth factorβi (TGFβi), a cytokine found in large amounts in α-granules of platelets, might play a role in multiple myeloma (MM). It was the purpose of this study to determine serum TGFβi levels in MM patients and to seek a correlation with disease parameters. Measurements were done by ELISA. We studied 35 MM patients (19 stage II, 16 stage III, 20lgG, 8lgA and 6BJ, 11gD) in different phases of the disease, 27 healthy individuals and 17 thrombocytopenic patients with other haematological diseases (three MDS, three congenital thrombocytopenia, 11ITP). Overall samples from MM patients were included: 10 at diagnosis, 18 in remission and 32 in relapse. In normal controls TGFβi serum levels ranged from 1 to 33 ng/ml (median 16.5 ng/ml). In both thrombocytopenic controls with other diseases and thrombocytopenic MM patients (seven samples), TGFβi serum levels were very low (median 3.2 and 4.5 ng/ml respectively). In MM patients with PLT > 100? 109/L (53 samples), TFGβi serum levels were in the normal range in patients without immunoparesis (1 to 27 ng/ml, median 16.6 ng/ml), whereas they were higher in patients with immunoparesis (polyclonal imrnunoglobulins (Igs) below lower normal reference values) ranging from 10.2 to 45 ng/ml (median 26.8 ng/ml) (P < 0.01). Serum TGFβi levels fluctuated in the same patient at different times but not according to relapse or remission. Correlation was found only between serum TGFβi levels and immunoparesis and not between serum TGFβi levels and disease stage or lg subtype nor with prognostic factors for MM (serum CRP, β2M or IL-6). This finding suggests that the remaining normal plasma cells are sensitive to the inhibitory action of TGFβi on Ig production. In conclusion TGFβi serum levels are very low in thrombocytopenic patients confirming that platelets are the major source of this cytokine. Furthermore, a strong correlation was found between TGFβi serum levels and immunoparesis in MM patients.     

Serum concentrations of Dickkopf-1 protein are increased in patients with multiple myeloma and reduced after autologous stem cell transplantation

Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) protein, a soluble inhibitor of Wnt signalling, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of myeloma bone disease through the suppression of osteoblast differentiation. In this study, serum concentrations of DKK-1 were measured in 50 myeloma patients (32 at diagnosis and 18 before and after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), 18 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), and 22 healthy controls. Serum DKK-1 levels were increased in MM at diagnosis compared with MGUS (mean +/- SD: 67 +/- 54 ng/mL vs. 38 +/- 13 ng/mL; p = 0.006) and controls (31 +/- 11 ng/mL; p = 0.02), while there was no difference between MGUS patients and controls. Although patients with stage 2 and 3 myeloma had higher DKK-1 values than stage 1 patients (79 +/- 63 vs. 40 +/- 13; p = 0.005), no significant correlation between serum DKK-1 and myeloma bone disease was observed. Myeloma patients before ASCT also had increased levels of DKK-1 (63 +/- 77 ng/mL; p = 0.03) compared with controls, supporting the notion that DKK-1 may be responsible for the suppressed osteoblast activity even in patients with low tumor burden. After ASCT, there was a sustained decrease in DKK-1 levels over time, while bone formation markers elevated, suggesting that the reduction of DKK-1 levels after ASCT may correlate with the normalization of osteoblast function. These results could provide the basis for developing agents that block DKK-1, thus restoring osteoblast function and counteracting the increased osteoclastogenesis observed in myeloma.     

The value of carcinoembryonic antigens in patients with advanced lung cancer: in relation to chemotherapy

The serum carcinoembryonic antigens (CEA) levels in 177 advanced lung cancer patients were studied to assess their value for the prognosis and indicating the effectiveness of chemotherapy. The relationship of pretreatment CEA levels with histology and stage of disease was also examined. Levels in excess of 5 ng/ml and 20 ng/ml were found in 55% and 32% of lung cancer patients, respectively. The elevated CEA levels were more frequently observed in patients with adenocarcinoma (65% in excess of 5 ng/ml) and extensive disease, but pretreatment CEA levels were not significantly correlated with the histology and clinical stage of disease. In 102 patients with adenocarcinoma, there was no significant difference of survival time in each patient with CEA levels less than 5 ng/ml, 5.0 less than or equal to - less than 20 ng/ml and in excess of 20 ng/ml; median survival time was 7, 7, 8 mo, respectively, and response to chemotherapy was not significant in each of these groups. Serial serum CEA measurements in patients with pretreatment levels in excess of 20 ng/ml correlated well with changes in disease status reflecting clinical response to chemotherapy. Mean percent changes of CEA levels to pretreatment levels were-77.4% in patients with partial response (PR), -55.6% in those with minor response (MR), -4.0% in patients with no change (NC) and +79.0% in patients showing progressive disease (PD). There was a significant difference in the percent changes of CEA levels between patients with an objective response (PR) and patients who had none (MR + NC) (p less than 0.02). CEA levels of all patients who had PD increased or unchanged. Serial measurements of serum CEA are useful in patients whose pretreatment levels are more than 20 ng/ml for monitoring the response to chemotherapy, and may be a useful noninvasive technique for patients with unmeasurable disease as a monitor of tumor burden in response to chemotherapy and recurrent disease.     

Proliferative activity of plasma cells is the most relevant prognostic factor in elderly multiple myeloma patients

Although multiple myeloma (MM) is predominantly a disease of the elderly, few studies have focused on the identification of prognostic factors in this group of patients. Four hundred twenty five MM patients >65 years were uniformly treated with chemotherapy (MP or VCMP/VBAD). Multivariate analysis identified 4 factors with independent unfavorable prognostic influence: high percentage of S-phase bone marrow plasma cells (>2.5%); elevated beta(2) microglobulin (B2M) (>4 mg/L); age >80 years old; and LDH serum levels (above normal limit). The S-phase value was the most powerful independent prognostic factor to discriminate subgroups of patients with different prognosis. Thus, 3 main risk categories could be identified according to S-phase values: 3%, with median survivals of 34, 22 and 12 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). Our study also proved the value for elderly patients of the recently developed International Score System (ISS) based on B2M and albumin. Furthermore, the number of S-phase cells helped to subdivide the ISS III Group identifying a subset of patients with very poor prognosis defined by an additional high S-phase, who displayed a median survival of only 8 months. These results demonstrate that elderly patients can be accurately classified according to prognosis, which may be particularly valuable when comparing the efficacy of new treatment strategies. Moreover, our results underline the high prognostic value of proliferative activity of PC, a parameter that should be considered in routine laboratory investigations of MM.     

Histologic, biochemical, and clinical parameters for monitoring multiple myeloma

In a retrospective and prospective follow-up study from 1968 to 1989, bone marrow biopsy specimens, serum beta-2-microglobulin (SB2M) levels, and the clinical features of 251 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and 28 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) were investigated. The main histologic variables (tumor cell type, tumor growth, tumor load, and fibrosis), SB2M level, serum thymidine kinase (STK) level, and various clinical parameters were analyzed to determine factors of value in monitoring the clinical phases of activity in MM. Our recently proposed prognostic strategy combining bone marrow histologic type, SB2M level, and signs of organ failure was tested for its ability to (1) diagnose the early and smoldering variants; (2) facilitate decisions on the time of initiation, the type and duration of initial induction therapy in the pretreatment phases (active and rapidly progressive phases); and (3) characterize variations in tumor regression and tumor-host interactions during chemotherapy (early treatment, plateau, relapse, transition, and refractory phases). The results indicate that this clinicopathologic monitoring combines information both on stage and aggressivity of MM and thus facilitates therapeutic decisions in the various clinical phases of MM.     

The Clinical Significance of Serum Soluble Fas and p53 Protein in Breast Cancer Patients: Comparison with Serum CA 15-3

Serum sFas and p53 protein have been observed in breast cancer patients, but their clinical usefulness for diagnosis and therapy monitoring has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical utility of serum sFas and p53 protein with that of serum CA 15-3 as the most commonly used breast cancer tumor marker. Serum samples were taken from 35 normal healthy controls and 35 breast cancer patients before surgery, after 2?weeks of surgery and after six cycles of FAC chemotherapy. Serum sFas and p53 protein levels were measured using ELISA kits. Serum CA 15-3 levels were determined using IRMA kit. Mean Serum levels of sFas and CA 15-3 were significantly elevated while p53 protein was significantly declined in breast caner patients than controls. Serum p53 protein showed the greatest significant area under the ROC curve (84.3%) followed by sFas (80.5%), then CA 15-3 (78%). The sensitivity, specificity and cut-off value for diagnosing breast cancer patients were 84.2%, 82.6% and 2.88?U/ml for p53 protein, 83.3%, 68.2% and 497.3?pg/ml for sFas and 45.8%, 100% and 23?U/ml for CA15-3. Surgical removal of breast resulted in a significant decline in serum sFas level with no effect on serum p53 protein and CA 15-3 levels. Six cycles of chemotherapy resulted in a significant elevation in serum sFas level with no effect on serum p53 protein and CA 15-3 levels. sFas was significantly correlated with tumor grade. It could be concluded that although serum p53 protein is superior to sFas and CA15-3 for diagnosis of breast cancer patients, only sFas is useful for monitoring the response of breast cancer patients to surgery and chemotherapy if the effect of systemic inflammatory reactions is excluded.     

Clinical features and outcome of multiple myeloma arising from the transformation of a monoclonal gammapathy of undetermined significance.

Patients with a monoclonal gammapathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) are usually submitted to a periodical clinical follow-up, but it is not known if this surveillance can ameliorate the prognosis of a plasma cell malignancy that will be eventually detected. We compared the clinical and laboratory characteristics at onset, the response to chemotherapy and the survival, of 21 cases of newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) arising from the malignant transformation of MGUS and 41 cases without a previous history of MGUS, recruited to the same first-line treatments over a 3-years period. The former group showed a significant lower frequency of advanced stages as well as other several prognostic factors of high risk including anemia, renal failure, bone lesions and increase of beta2 microglobulin and C-reactive protein levels. Despite a similar response to treatment of the two groups, MM arising from MGUS showed a significantly longer median survival than MM without prior MGUS. This was particularly true for stage I, while stages II and III behaved similarly. We conclude that the regular clinical monitoring of MGUS patients allowed the identification of earlier malignant transformation, when tumor burden is lower, as indicated by lower beta2 microglobulin levels and marrow plasmacytosis of stage I MM arising from MGUS. Moreover, a slower proliferation rate of myeloma cells, as suggested by lower C-reactive protein levels, may be considered so as to explain the longer survival of these patients.     

Prognostic factors for the efficacy of thalidomide in the treatment of multiple myeloma: a clinical study of 110 patients in China

Thalidomide (Thal) has been used for a few years as salvage treatment for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, the response rate in Chinese patients treated with Thal has not been determined and the prognostic factors for response rate (RR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) not yet well identified. This study enrolled 110 Chinese patients with MM who received either Thal alone, Thal plus dexamethasone (Thal + Dex) or Thal plus conventional chemotherapy (Thal + CC). Their laboratory and clinical parameters were retrospectively analysed. The overall RR was 63.6% (complete response rate 6.4%, partial response rate 57.3%). Patients aged < 65 years, time from diagnosis to the start of Thal treatment < 6 months or combined therapy had a significantly higher RR (p < 0.05). In univariate analysis, age < 65years predicted a longer PFS (p = 0.008). Age < 65 years, serum creatinine < 176.8 micromol L-1 and serum beta 2 microglobulin (beta2M) < 3.5 mg L-1 were associated with longer OS (p = 0.028, 0.045 and 0.019, respectively). Multi-factor analysis suggested that serum beta2M was the only independent prognostic factor for OS (p = 0.025).     

Serum BCMA levels predict outcomes in MGUS and smoldering myeloma patients

Soluble BCMA (sBCMA) levels are elevated in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM). However, the association between sBCMA levels and prognosis in MGUS and SMM has not been studied. We retrospectively analyzed sBCMA levels in stored samples from 99 MGUS and 184 SMM patients. Baseline sBCMA levels were significantly higher in MGUS and SMM patients progressing to MM during clinical follow up. When stratified according to the median baseline sBCMA level for each cohort, higher levels were associated with a shorter PFS for MGUS (HR 3.44 comparing sBCMA ≥77 vs <77 ng/mL [95% CI 2.07–5.73, p < 0.001] and SMM (HR 2.0 comparing sBCMA ≥128 vs <128 ng/mL, 95% 1.45–2.76, p < 0.001) patients. The effect of sBCMA on PFS was similar even after adjusting for the baseline MGUS or SMM risk stratification. We evaluated paired serum samples and found that sBCMA increased significantly in MGUS and SMM patients who eventually progressed to MM, whereas among MGUS non-progressors the sBCMA level remained stable. While our results require independent validation, they suggest that sBCMA may be a useful biomarker to identify MGUS and SMM patients at increased risk of progression to MM independent of the established risk models.Subject terms: Myeloma, Tumour immunology, Prognosis     

Polyclonal immunoglobulins in malignant plasma cell dyscrasias

Polyclonal immunoglobulins (Ig) were measured at diagnosis and/or following chemotherapy in 226 patients with a malignant plasma cell dyscrasia (PCD), including 11 patients with solitary myeloma (SM) and 215 patients with multiple myeloma (MM). At diagnosis, Ig synthesis suppression was observed in 80.7% of patients with MM but never in case of SM (p less than 0.001). In patients with MM, there was a clear correlation between IgA or IgM levels (but not IgG) and the total body burden of myeloma cells (p less than 0.01), the lowest levels being observed in patients presenting with the highest myeloma cell mass. Of major interest, for patients evaluated following the induction of chemotherapy, an increase of Ig, from low to normal levels, was only noted in case with a myeloma cell mass regression over 90% and successful achievement of a greater than or equal to 1-year plateau period. We concluded that polyclonal Ig evaluation appeared to be of diagnostic and prognostic values in the management of malignant PCD.     

Multiple myeloma: An immunoclinical study of disease and response to treatment

Plasma cytokines and immune markers were assessed during the clinical management of 42 patients with multiple myeloma, MM. Of the patients 22/42 (all with progressive disease) were studied from the time of diagnosis, through various treatment regimes, to remission, progression or death. 5/42 patients had monoclonal gammopathy of undertermined significance (MGUS), 8/42 others had either indolent MM or stable MM, and a further 7/42 with progressive disease were also studied. IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, β2 microglobulin (β2M), and neopterin were estimated in bloods taken under optimal conditions for cytokine detection. The levels were compared with a panel of samples from healthy volunteers. Both immunoreactive and bilogically active plasma IL-6 levels were measured. Pretreatment IL-6 levels (both immunoreactive and biologically active) were found to correlate with severity of disease. In 13/22 patients with progressive disease who had been followed from the time of diagnosis over a 12-month period or until death, pretreatment IL-6 levels were predictive of response to therapy. Elevated plasma levels of TNF-α, β2M and neopterin were found in patients with progressive multiple myeloma, and this correlated with renal impairment. The analytes measured during the course of chemotherapy did not show correlation with disease progression or response to therapy.     

Both IGH translocations and chromosome 13q deletions are early events in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and do not evolve during transition to multiple myeloma.

Molecular and genetic events associated with the transition from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) to multiple myeloma (MM) are still poorly characterized. We investigated serial bone marrow specimens from 11 patients with MGUS who eventually progressed to MM (MM post-MGUS) by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization for immunoglobulin heavy-chain gene (IgH) translocations and chromosome 13q deletions (del(13q)). In nine patients, IgH translocations were present both in MGUS and MM post-MGUS plasma cells, including three t(11;14)(q13;q32) and one t(4;14)(p16;q32), which was observed already 92 months prior to MM. Similarly, all five MM patients with del(13q) had this aberration already at the MGUS stage. Two patients without IgH translocation and del(13q) had chromosomal gains suggesting hyperdiploidy, but IgH translocations and/or del(13q) did not emerge at MM post-MGUS. IgH translocations and del(13q) are early genetic events in monoclonal gammopathies, suggesting that additional events are required for the transition from stable MGUS to progressive MM.     

p53 gene status and response to platinum/paclitaxel-based chemotherapy in advanced ovarian carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The p53 gene plays a critical role in cellular response to DNA damage and has been implicated in the response to platinum compounds in ovarian carcinoma patients. Because taxanes could induce p53-independent apoptosis, we assessed the relevance of p53 gene status to response in ovarian carcinoma patients receiving paclitaxel and platinum-containing chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-eight previously untreated patients with advanced disease received standard paclitaxel/platinum-based chemotherapy. In tumor specimens collected at the time of initial surgery, before therapy, p53 gene status and expression were examined by single-strand conformation polymorphism, sequence analysis, and immunohistochemical analysis. Microsatellite instability analysis was performed on available samples from 30 patients. RESULTS: Thirty-four (71%) of the 48 patients had a clinical response. Pathologic complete remission was documented in 13 (27%) of 48 patients. p53 mutations were detected in 29 (60%) of 48 tumors. Among the patients with mutant p53 tumors, 25 patients (86%) responded to chemotherapy. Only nine (47%) of 19 patients with wild-type p53 tumors responded to the same treatment. The overall response rate and the complete remission rate were significantly higher among patients with mutant p53 tumors than among patients with wild-type p53 tumors (P: =.008). Most of the tested tumors not associated with complete remission (10 of 12 tumors) were also characterized by microsatellite instability. The complete remission rate was higher among patients with tumors without microsatellite instability (five of seven patients). CONCLUSION: In contrast to the limited efficacy of treatment with paclitaxel in combination with standard platinum doses against wild-type p53 ovarian tumors, patients with mutant p53 ovarian tumors were more responsive to paclitaxel-based chemotherapy. The pattern of response to chemotherapy containing paclitaxel is different from that associated with high-dose cisplatin therapy. Determining p53 mutational status can be useful in predicting therapeutic response to drugs effective in ovarian carcinoma.     

Serum thymidine kinase in monoclonal gammopathies. A prospective study. The Cooperative Group for Study and Treatment of Multiple Myeloma.

Between January 1986 and March 1990, the serum levels of thymidine kinase (TK) were evaluated at diagnosis in 97 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and 149 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) enrolled in a prospective protocol for treatment of MM. At presentation, patients with MGUS had lower TK levels than those with Stage I MM (P less than 0.05) and the overall population of those with MM (P less than 0.0005). TK levels were increased in advanced stages in comparison with earlier ones (P less than 0.01). The TK level was related to survival. With a median follow-up of 29 months, patients with TK levels greater than 7.0 U/microliters had shorter survival times than those with lower levels (medians, 23 and 42 months; P less than 0.0001). In a multivariate analysis, TK explained most of the variability of survival (P less than 0.0001), the remaining being accounted for by serum creatinine and beta-2 microglobulin. No changes in TK levels occurred during follow-up of patients with stable MGUS, whereas TK levels increased in two patients at time of progression to overt MM. In patients with MM, TK levels decreased (P less than 0.01) in those who responded to treatment but increased in those having relapses (P less than 0.03) and those with progressive disease (P less than 0.03). These results indicate that TK has clinical and prognostic relevance in monoclonal gammopathies, and additional investigations are warranted to determine whether it is a useful tool for the clinical evaluation, staging, and follow-up of patients with MM.