[mym]

Is cytogenetic testing routine for multiple myeloma?

by mym on Sun Mar 04, 2018 6:25 pm

Is cytogenetic testing routine for multiple myeloma patients, or is it only done at specialist centers?

[Nancy Shamanna]

Re: Is cytogenetic testing routine for multiple myeloma?

by Nancy Shamanna on Mon Mar 05, 2018 10:39 am

Hello mym,

When I had my initial diagnosis 8 years ago, cytogenetic testing was done from the bone marrow biopsy. Since I had a high percentage of cancer plasma cells in the marrow, this was feasible to do. Subsequently, when I had bone marrow biopsies, I had only normal amounts of plasma cells, thank­fully! I understand that cytogenetic testing can only be done if there are a significant amount of malignant plasma cells present, so it's best to have this testing done initially, before treatments put one into a remission.

Hope that helps! I think that most centres would do this, since myeloma is differentiated into 'low risk' and 'high risk', and the treatment approach might differ because of this.

[TerryH]

Re: Is cytogenetic testing routine for multiple myeloma?

by TerryH on Mon Mar 05, 2018 6:53 pm

I think cytogenetic testing is rather common in multiple myeloma patients diagnosed in the U.S., but it's not a given elsewhere. For example, it was mentioned in another forum thread that cytogenetic testing is not always done in the case of myeloma patients in the UK (except, I imagine, in the case of patients in clinical trials, and many UK patients are in clinical trials).

Why do you ask? Did you ask for cytogenetic testing, and was your request turned down?

[faithoverfear]

Re: Is cytogenetic testing routine for multiple myeloma?

by faithoverfear on Mon Mar 05, 2018 8:54 pm

I've had bone marrow biopsies at four treatment centers. Cytogenetic testing was done at all four locations. Three of the centers were associated with medical schools that had research programs. Still, the one regular commercial treatment center did send the sample out for cytogenetic testing. Only one of the treatment centers discussed the results with me.

Hope this helps.