Myeloid neoplasms secondary to plasma cell myeloma: an intrinsic predisposition or therapy-related phenomenon? A clinicopathologic study of 41 cases and correlation of cytogenetic features with treatment regimens

Am J Clin Pathol. 2012 Dec;138(6):855-66. doi: 10.1309/AJCPOP7APGDT9JIU.

Abstract

We describe 41 cases of myeloid neoplasms (MNs) secondary to plasma cell myeloma (PCM). The types of MN included myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) in 34 (82.9%), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 4 (9.8%), and myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) or MDS/MPN in 3 (7.3%) cases. The latency from treatment to diagnosis of MN ranged from 9 to 384 months, with a median of 60 months. Of 37 cases with cytogenetic studies, complex abnormalities were detected in 22 (59.5%), -5(q)/-7(q) in 4 (10.8%), other abnormalities in 8 (21.6%), and normal karyotype in 3 (8.1%) cases. Complex abnormalities and -5(q)/-7(q) correlated directly with multiple chemotherapeutic regimens, particularly with combined melphalan/cyclophosphamide. Moreover, the features of cytogenetic abnormalities in our series were significantly different from those with concomitant PCM/MN who had significantly lower complex abnormalities. The latency, skewed proportion of MDS, and bias toward complex cytogenetic abnormalities/unbalanced aberrations of chromosomes 5/7 suggested an alkylating mutagenic effect on pathogenesis of secondary MN. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated a median survival of 19 months, which was better than that for therapy-related (t)-MDS/AML. In contrast to t-MDS, the survival in our patients appeared to depend on subtypes of MDS as seen in de novo diseases.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / adverse effects*
  • Chromosome Aberrations
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7 / genetics
  • Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / etiology*
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / genetics
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / mortality
  • Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / pathology
  • Male
  • Melphalan / adverse effects
  • Melphalan / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Myeloma / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Myeloma / genetics
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / etiology*
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / genetics
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / mortality
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / pathology
  • Myeloid Cells / pathology
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / etiology*
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / genetics
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / mortality
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / pathology
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / etiology*
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / genetics
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / mortality
  • Neoplasms, Second Primary / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Melphalan