[Ricardo]

Article (potentially) critical of myeloma stem cell theory

by Ricardo on Tue Jun 12, 2012 7:42 pm

I'm going to admit from the get-go that this article is far more technical than I'm able to process with my limited knowledge of such things.

However, as I interpret the results that the authors report, it seems to be critical of some of the evidence that researchers such as Dr. Matsui at Johns Hopkins have claimed demonstrate the existence of so-called "myeloma stem cells."

Here is a link to the full text of the article (which is available free of charge and without registration):

http://www.haematologica.org/content/97/6/e18.long

The article starts out by saying that "Matsui et al. reported the identification of a potential multiple myeloma 'stem cell' resembling less differentiated post germinal center B cells. These cells lacked expression of CD138 but expressed the B-cell antigens CD19 and CD20 as well as surface light chain."

In other words, a key aspect of the cells that Dr. Matsui identified as potential myeloma stem cells was they were unable to express CD138.

The authors of this paper, however, argue that this finding -- that these cells don't express CD138 -- may be the result of a simple error in the way the samples were handled that Dr. Matsui and his colleagues analyzed.

Or, to use the technical language of the paper's conclusion: "We conclude that the CD138− cellular subset reported seems to represent an apoptotic artifact probably due to sample handling and procedures."

This seems like a pretty big deal to me.

Is anyone here more versed in understanding these things and, if so, can they comment on whether my interpretation of the results is correct?

[Anonymous]

Re: Article (potentially) critical of myeloma stem cell theo

by Anonymous on Wed Jul 04, 2012 9:10 pm

Recent Press Release (July 2, 2012) on the existence of abnormal stem cells in
Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS):
http://www.biosciencetechnology.com/News/2012/07/Myelodysplastic-Syndromes-(MDS)-Linked-to-Abnormal-Stem-Cells/

This may shed light on the existence of abnormal stem cells in myeloma.