Detection of chromosome 13 (13q14) deletion among Sudanese patients with multiple myeloma using a molecular genetics fluorescent in situ hybridization technique (FISH).

UNLABELLED: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplastic plasma cell dyscrasia with an incidence of 4-4.5 per 100,000 population per year. It is regarded as the second most prevalent blood cancer (10%) after non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The objective of this study was to investigate the mutational change in chromosome 13 (13q14) among Sudanese MM patients and to identify the association between extent of plasma cell infiltration in the bone marrow, albumin level and deletion of 13q14 by an analytical case control study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 15 patients were enrolled in the study. 11 bone marrow samples were collected from MM patients at different stages of the disease and 4 samples were from patients with conditions other than MM as control. Plasma cells were counted from bone marrow smears and fluorescence-in-situ hybridization (FISH) was performed using Fluorophore labeled DLEU1 (13q14) LSI (local specific identifier) probe designed as a dual-colour assay to detect deletion at 13q14. Heparanized sample was taken for estimation of serum albumin in all patients.

RESULTS: 13q14 deletion was detected in 6 (54.5%) MM patients while one (9.1%) patient showed monosomy. All relapsed MM (27.3%) had 13q14 deletion. Surprisingly almost all patients studied had normal albumin level. The study could not show whether the deletion is implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma.