[Rhkoser]

Flow cytometry / FISH results - what do they mean?

by Rhkoser on Mon Mar 09, 2015 4:54 pm

FISH:

Anomaly Result (%) Normal Cutoff
-13 Abnormal (86%) < 1.1
del (13q) Normal < 4.0
del (17p) Normal < 10.2
+14q 32 Abnormal (52.2%) NE
t (4;14) Normal < 0.5
(p16.3;q32)
t (11;14) Normal <0.5
(q13;q32)
t (14;16) Normal <0.5
(q32;q23)

Flow Cytometric:

Plasma Cells with Atypical Immunophenotype
Positive: CD138
CD 38
CD 27 positive to dim
CD81 and CD56 Bimodal Majority Negative
CD19, CD20, CD45 = Negative

Can anyone tell me what all this means?

Would appreciate it immensely.

[Dr. Adam Cohen]

Re: Flow cytometry / FISH results - what do they mean?

by Dr. Adam Cohen on Wed Mar 11, 2015 7:31 pm

The flow cytometry results just show that there are myeloma cells present in the bone marrow. Myeloma cells have different markers on their surface (ie an abnormal immunophenotype) than normal plasma cells; this is one way we can tell that these are abnormal / malignant cells.

FISH is used to look for certain chromosome abnormalities that can be associated with more aggressive disease or worse prognosis. The ones that are most worrisome are del(17p) (loss of part of chromosome 17), t(4;14) (a rearrangement between chromosomes 4 and 14), and t(14;16) (a rearrangement between chromosomes 14 and 16). You don't have any of these worrisome ones.

Your myeloma cells have lost chromosome 13, and have an extra copy of part of chromosome 14. These are considered "standard-risk" features and not associated with more aggressive disease, and shouldn't impact treatment choice or management.

Hope this helps!

[Rhkoser]

Re: Flow cytometry / FISH results - what do they mean?

by Rhkoser on Thu Mar 12, 2015 10:27 am

Dr. Cohen,

Thank you for taking the time to post a reply; yes, it did help.
My husband has been diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma and large granular lymphocytic leukemia.

These are such a confusing/complex diseases!