Immunophenotype and DNA content of myeloma cells in primary plasma cell leukemia

To clarify the biological characteristics of the myeloma cells in primary plasma cell leukemia (PCL), we studied the immunological phenotype and DNA content of cells from five patients with primary PCL as compared to those from the patients with typical multiple myeloma (MM). In two of five patients with PCL myeloma cells had B-cell-associated antigens (B1, J5) and surface immunoglobulin in addition to plasma cell associated antigens, suggesting that these cells are immunologically immature as compared to mature plasma cells. Concerning the DNA content of myeloma cells, two of four patients had hypodiploid while two had diploid myeloma cells. In contrast, 24 of the 37 (65%) patients with typical MM had hyperdiploid and 1 had hypodiploid myeloma cells. These observations suggest that the myeloma cells in PCL are immunologically heterogeneous. The increased incidence of hypodiploidy in PCL may explain its relatively poor prognosis as previously shown in those with typical MM and hypodiploid DNA content.