Flow cytometry in monoclonal gammopathies.

The technological development of flow cytometry (FC) together with new findings reveal the need for immunophenotyping in research of monoclonal gammopathy (MG) because of its diagnostic, prognostic and predictive significance. The aim of the European Myeloma Network (EMN) is to standardize this analytical method and implement it into routine clinical examination. Since the overall significance and application of FC are still analysed, standardisation could help obtain more clinical relevant information in terms of MG pathophysiology.

Flow cytometric phenotyping and analysis of T regulatory cells in multiple myeloma patients.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell (PC) disorder and associated with immune impairments. Flow cytometry based phenotyping and quantification of regulatory T cells (Tregs) enable to monitor the immune status of myeloma patients. Apart from enumeration of Tregs, functional characterization using proliferation or suppression assay adds key value in demonstrating the functional value ofTregs. Our study revealed that in MM patientsTregs are elevated compared to healthy subjects, which demonstrate the immune deregulation in MM.

Centrosome amplification as a possible marker of mitotic disruptions and cellular carcinogenesis in multiple myeloma.

Centrosome amplification (CA) as a potential marker of mitotic disruptions in multiple myeloma (MM) was investigated in two populations of B-cell lineage: B-cells and plasma cells (PCs). Using immunofluorescent staining, it was shown that CA in B-cells is present in 3.2+/-2.5% in healthy donors versus 9.9+/-7.9% in MM patients (p<0.0001). Based on the calculated threshold value of CA in B-cells, 37% (14/38) of MM patients were positive. There was no significant correlation between CA-positive MM cases (based on PC samples evaluation) and the occurrence of cytogenetic abnormalities in PCs, including del(13)(q14), del(17)(p13), gain(1)(q21) and hyperdiploidy.