Prognostic Value of 1q21 Gain in Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by chromosomal translocation, deletion, and amplification in plasma cells, resulting in a huge heterogeneity in its outcomes. In the era of novel agents such as bortezomib, thalidomide, and the cycles of treatment, risk stratification by chromosomal aberrations may enable a more rational risk-stratification selection of therapeutic approaches in patients with MM.

We performed a retrospective study in 63 patients with MM; 29 (46.03%) with 1q21 gain and 34 (53.97%) without gain.

In all patients, we did not find that the patients with 1q21 gain had significantly better survival compared with patients without 1q21 gain (overall survival, P = .6916; progression-free survival, P = .8740). However, in 1q21 gain patients, we found that the bortezomib group had significantly better survival compared with the non-bortezomib group in terms of both the 3-year estimated overall survival (82.3% vs. 18.8%; P = .0154) and progression-free survival (62.8% vs. 8.75%; P = .0385).

1q21 gain detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization is not as high risk for poor prognosis with regard to time for overall survival. And the clinical outcome of patients with 1q21 gain can be improved in those who received no less than 4 cycles of bortezomib-based therapy (bortezomib, thalidomide, and dexamethasone).