Cyclin D1 protein in multiple myeloma and plasmacytoma: an immunohistochemical study using fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections

• Published in: Modern pathology Vol. 10; no. 9; p. 927
• Main Authors: Vasef, M A, Medeiros, L J, Yospur, L S, Sun, N C, McCourty, A, Brynes, R K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-09-1997
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cyclin D1 - metabolism; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains - immunology; Immunoglobulin Light Chains - immunology; Immunohistochemistry; Leukemia, Plasma Cell - immunology; Leukemia, Plasma Cell - metabolism; Leukemia, Plasma Cell - mortality; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma - immunology; Multiple Myeloma - metabolism; Multiple Myeloma - mortality; Paraffin Embedding; Plasmacytoma - immunology; Plasmacytoma - metabolism; Plasmacytoma - mortality; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Survival Rate
• ISSN: 0893-3952

In this study, we analyzed 69 plasma cell neoplasms, including 54 multiple myelomas (MMs), 3 cases of plasma cell leukemia, and 12 plasmacytomas, for expression of cyclin D1 protein using an immuno-histochemical method applied to routinely fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections. Cyclin D1 was expressed in 18 (26%) of 69 plasma cell neoplasms, including 16 (30%) of 54 MMs and 2 (17%) of 12 plasmacytomas. Three cases of plasma cell leukemia were negative. Cyclin D1 expression correlated with the cytologic differentiation and histologic stage of MM. Twelve (75%) of 16 MMs had intermediate or immature cytologic features and were histologic Stage III. With use of a polymerase chain reaction assay, we also analyzed six cases (three cyclin D1 positive, three cyclin D1 negative) for the t(11;14); one MM carried the t(11;14) and expressed cyclin D1 protein. We conclude that cyclin D1 expression occurs in approximately one-quarter of plasma cell neoplasms and correlates with the degree of cytologic differentiation and histologic stage. The relatively high frequency of cyclin D1 expression, compared with the less than 5% incidence of the t(11;14) detected by conventional cytogenetics reported in the literature, suggests that upregulation of cyclin D1 protein might be the result of mechanisms other than the t(11;14).