Correlated flow cytometric analysis of H-ras p21 and nuclear DNA in
multiple myeloma
H Tsuchiya, J Epstein, P Selvanayagam, JR Dedman, G Gallick, R Alexanian and B Barlogie
University of Texas System Cancer Center, M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor
Institute, Department of Hematology, Houston 77030.
Correlated analysis of the H-ras oncogenes product (p21) and of nuclear DNA
content was performed by flow cytometry (FCM) in patients with DNA-
aneuploid multiple myeloma (MM). Bone marrow cells from normal donors and
MM patients in remission served as controls. Seventy-four percent of 23
patients with active MM had higher p21 fluorescence in aneuploid tumor
cells than were observed in normal donor or myeloma remission bone marrows;
39% of the 23 patients also showed high H-ras p21 expression in diploid
cells. There was an inverse relationship between p21 levels and the
presence of trisomy 11; especially high p21 levels were noted in patient
without trisomy 11. The frequent elevation of p21 protein in aneuploid
plasma cells suggests the involvement of the H-ras oncogene in the
pathophysiology of MM, which is further supported by a shorter survival
among patients with high p21 levels.
Volume 72,
Issue 2,
pp. 796-800,
08/01/1988
Copyright © 1988 by The American Society of Hematology
