BCL-2 PROTEIN EXPRESSION IS NOT RELATED TO SHORT SURVIVAL IN MULTIPLE-MYELOMA

The oncoprotein bcl-2 can be expressed in malignant plasma cells and m ight play a role in the prevention of corticosteroid-mediated apoptosi s, thereby prolonging survival of the myeloma cells. We retrospectivel y investigated whether bcl-2 expression in bone marrow plasma cells me asured by two-color fluorescence for immunoglobulin light chains would be related to survival duration in patients suffering from multiple m yeloma. In all patients the large majority of plasma cells expressed b cl-2 (median 91%, range 74-100%). Contrary to our expectations, a tend ency was observed toward higher percentages bcl-2(+) plasma cells in p atients with a long survival (more than 5 years, n = 9) vs patients wh o died from refractory myeloma within a year of diagnosis (n = 7). Thi s tendency was found even when analysis was extended to include four p atients in the short diagnosis group (n = 11) who had received chemoth erapy prior to bone marrow examination.