[Cytogenetic abnormalities in high-risk multiple myeloma]

Multiple myeloma is a genetically complex disease. Myeloma can be divided into hyperdiploid and non-hyperdiploid subtypes. Non-hyperdiploid subtype is mainly composed of cases harboring IgH translocations, generally associated with more aggressive clinical features and shorter survival. From a comprehensive FISH tests, the lesions associated with short progression-free survival and overall survival in multivariate analysis were del(17p13), abnormalities of chromosome 1(1p deletion and 1q amplification) and an adverse immunoglobulin heavy chain gene translocation group incorporating t(4;14), t(14;16) and t(14;20). Furthermore, the high frequency of mutations in the ERK pathway (NRAS in 24%, KRAS in 27% and BRAF in 4%) indicates that the ERK pathway is crucial for myeloma development.