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Prognostic Value of Low Polyclonal Plasma Cells

Am J Hematol; ePub 2017 July 19; Ghosh, et al

Publish date:: July 26, 2017

Depleted polyclonal plasma cells (pPCs) in the bone marrow can help identify patients with multiple myeloma at risk of relapse, according to a study involving 174 individuals. Using flow cytometry, investigators looked at the prognostic value of depleted pPCs in bone marrow in participants with multiple myeloma who were relapsing. Among the results:

Time to next therapy in patients with <5% pPCs was ~9 months, vs ~14 months months in those with ≥5% pPCs.
Median overall survival was ~21 months and not reached, respectively.
Among 109 patients with standard risk cytogenetics, median overall survival was ~28 months and not reached, respectively.

Citation:

Ghosh T, Gonsalves W, Jevremovic D, et al. The prognostic significance of polyclonal bone marrow plasma cells in patients with relapsing multiple myeloma. [Published online ahead of print July 19, 2017]. Am J Hematol. doi:10.1002/ajh.24807.

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