How bad is 70% plasma cells in the marrow? That was my husband's percent. Can this be turned around and remission obtained?
He has 4 months Cytoxan, Velcade, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) and the stem cell transplant planned as his treatment.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Is a plasma cell percentage of 70% high?
My husband had 60% at the time he was diagnosed. He was stage III, had "inumerable" bone lesions, and had started going into renal failure. All really scary.
He started induction therapy in November 2014 - 4 cycles of Revlimid, Velcade, and dex (RVD). He then had a stem cell transplant in May 2015 and is in a clinical trial now of elotuzumab (Empliciti), Revlimid, and dexamethasone.
So far, he's done great. He's in complete response and feeling better than he has in years.
He started induction therapy in November 2014 - 4 cycles of Revlimid, Velcade, and dex (RVD). He then had a stem cell transplant in May 2015 and is in a clinical trial now of elotuzumab (Empliciti), Revlimid, and dexamethasone.
So far, he's done great. He's in complete response and feeling better than he has in years.
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reece93 - Name: reece93
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2014
- Age at diagnosis: 57
Re: Is a plasma cell percentage of 70% high?
Don't worry about the plasma cell percentage. The main thing is how he responds to treatment. Stage at diagnosis is much less relevant in multiple myeloma than it is in other, solid tumor, cancers. More important is the cytogenetics. Did you get the results of his FISH yet? Please post those when you get them. Hang in there.
Re: Is a plasma cell percentage of 70% high?
Yes, Ellen, I do have his FISH
FGFR3/IGH fusion signal pattern is 3.10% of cells analyzed which is consistent with t(4;14). The (p16;q32) occurs in 15% of plasma cell myeloma patients and is considered to be an independent negative prognostic indicator. FISH revealed additional copies ofCCND1 (11q13) and CEP19 (19q11-19q12) in 7.9% and 7.31%of cells analyzed. The results are consistent with, but not confirming for hyperdiploidy.
Our MD did say he presented with a gene that was a negative prognosis factor but the Velcade would cancel that out and he showed none of the other negative factors.
FGFR3/IGH fusion signal pattern is 3.10% of cells analyzed which is consistent with t(4;14). The (p16;q32) occurs in 15% of plasma cell myeloma patients and is considered to be an independent negative prognostic indicator. FISH revealed additional copies ofCCND1 (11q13) and CEP19 (19q11-19q12) in 7.9% and 7.31%of cells analyzed. The results are consistent with, but not confirming for hyperdiploidy.
Our MD did say he presented with a gene that was a negative prognosis factor but the Velcade would cancel that out and he showed none of the other negative factors.
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Is a plasma cell percentage of 70% high?
Is 70% plasma cell high?
Yep.
Mine was higher, though, AND I have the P-17 deletion which makes me high risk. I had a transplant over two years ago, and am now in complete remission ... and it looks like I'm going to stay there for awhile.
Multiple myeloma is a strange bird; as has already been noted, the 'stage" at the beginning isn't as important as it is in many other cancer diagnoses. Every case, every person, is different. May you and your husband have the same sort of luck and blessings that I have had!
Yep.
Mine was higher, though, AND I have the P-17 deletion which makes me high risk. I had a transplant over two years ago, and am now in complete remission ... and it looks like I'm going to stay there for awhile.
Multiple myeloma is a strange bird; as has already been noted, the 'stage" at the beginning isn't as important as it is in many other cancer diagnoses. Every case, every person, is different. May you and your husband have the same sort of luck and blessings that I have had!
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dianaiad - Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Officially...March 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 63
Re: Is a plasma cell percentage of 70% high?
I also had higher than 70% plasma cells at diagnosis 8 years ago. So, the percentage doesn't necessarily mean a poor prognosis. I responded well to induction and stem cell transplant. I relapsed almost 3 years post transplant and have been doing well for the last 3+ years on Revlimid and dex.
Nancy in Phila
Nancy in Phila
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NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Is a plasma cell percentage of 70% high?
I was diagnosed Sept. 2009 with 6 months of chemo and an auto stem cell transplant. I am in 5 years of remission, and I have been on Revlimid four years. I feel great!
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texas-tea13 - Name: Steve
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 09/19/2009
- Age at diagnosis: 59
Re: Is a plasma cell percentage of 70% high?
Thanks to all who have replied. I hope I can post some of these same long-term remission stories. 
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dogmom - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Is a plasma cell percentage of 70% high?
Hello Dogmom:
All the other comments I think are very good and valid. Let me add one. My understanding is that it is on average somewhat easier to get to CR or MRD - if the % is lower. If you believe in the new concepts of treating to CR or treat to MRD -, then you will probably need more rounds of induction, and consolidation post ASCT to get to those endpoint goals, as compared with another patient who had a lower %. Good luck to you. Rgds,
All the other comments I think are very good and valid. Let me add one. My understanding is that it is on average somewhat easier to get to CR or MRD - if the % is lower. If you believe in the new concepts of treating to CR or treat to MRD -, then you will probably need more rounds of induction, and consolidation post ASCT to get to those endpoint goals, as compared with another patient who had a lower %. Good luck to you. Rgds,
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JPC - Name: JPC
Re: Is a plasma cell percentage of 70% high?
Hi Dogmom,
My husband's was 85% when diagnosed in 2011 and he had favorable cytogenetics per his FISH (trisomonies). It took over 2 years for him to get to stringent complete response (sCR), so I would agree with JPC's comment about it taking longer when the plasma cell percentage is higher. My husband's induction treatment consisted of 24 cycles of Kyprolis / Revlimid / dex (clinical study) and he then went on Revlimid / dex maintenance (no SCT) until mid January 2016.
His M-spike appeared again in January 2015 and after a year of it slowly ticking upward each month, he's started Ninlaro and Cytoxan today.
Best wishes,
Chris M.
My husband's was 85% when diagnosed in 2011 and he had favorable cytogenetics per his FISH (trisomonies). It took over 2 years for him to get to stringent complete response (sCR), so I would agree with JPC's comment about it taking longer when the plasma cell percentage is higher. My husband's induction treatment consisted of 24 cycles of Kyprolis / Revlimid / dex (clinical study) and he then went on Revlimid / dex maintenance (no SCT) until mid January 2016.
His M-spike appeared again in January 2015 and after a year of it slowly ticking upward each month, he's started Ninlaro and Cytoxan today.
Best wishes,
Chris M.
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Chris M
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