An Interphase Chromosome Profiling Assay To Determine The Need For Cd 138 Enrichment In The Genetic Workup Of Multiple Myeloma

Plasma cell neoplasm, a B-cell malignancy is very common in elderly population and is currently incurable despite multiple treatment strategies. Genetic characterization, especially karyotype plays an important role in the diagnosis, prognosis as well as in the follow-up during treatment. In general, plasma cells are non-dividing and don't cooperate in tissue culture and as a result, over 90% of all standard cytogenetic studies end up having a "normal" karyotype. FISH testing using several probes has proven very useful in detecting the clonal abnormalities.