Chromosome 1q21 Aberrations Are Poor Prognostic Factors for Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients

Chromosome 1q21 aberrations are one of the most common cytogenetic abnormalities in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, the prognostic value remains controversial. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of numerical abnormalities of chromosome 1q21 for newly diagnosed patients with MM patients in Chinese population.

We retrospectively analyzed 629 patients with newly diagnosed MM who received the detection of chromosome 1q21 by fluorescence in situ hybridization in China.

Among 629 patients, 309 (49.1%) had 1q21 abnormalities, of which 187 (29.7%) had three copies and 122 (19.4%) had four or more copies. Patients with two copies of 1q21 had a significantly longer median overall survival (OS) than those with three copies or ≥4 copies and also had longer progression-free survival (PFS). However, patients with three or ≥4 copies had similar OS and PFS. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses determined that 1q21 aberrations are associated with shorter OS and PFS. 1q21 aberrations are also independent poor prognostic factors for OS and PFS in multivariable analyses. Del(17p), t(4;14), and t(14;16) are common high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRCAs) in patients with MM. Patients with 1q21+ alone or 1q21+ combined with HRCAs had shorter OS and PFS than patients without cytogenetic abnormalities. Patients with 1q21+ and t(11;14) also had shorter PFS but had similar OS than patients without cytogenetic abnormalities.

Our study showed that chromosome 1q21 aberrations are poor prognostic factors for newly diagnosed patients with MM.