OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic value of FICTION (Fluorescence Immunophenotyping and Interphase Cytogenetics as a Tool for the Investigation of Neoplasms) technique, combining immunofluorescence and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), to detect genetic aberrations in multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSBone marrow samples were collected from 18 MM and 2 plasma cell leukemia (PCL) patients. Probes targeting IgH and MMSET were prepared using a Nick Translation Kit from Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones. The immunophenotyping was achieved via the CD138 tyramide signal amplification (TSA)-mediated immunofluorescence, followed by FISH with the prepared probes \[t(4;14), t(11;14), t(14;16)\] and the commercial deletion probes (13q and p53) to detect common genetic aberrations in MM.

RESULTSAll the 20 samples were assayed with the probes mentioned above, and revealed 4 cases with t(4;14), 6 with t(11;14), 1 with t(14;16), 3 with p53 deletion; and 8 with 13q deletion. The remaining 4 cases had none of the 5 aberrations.

CONCLUSIONFICTION technique facilitates the detection of genetic abnormalities of MM in situ; enhances both efficiency and sensitivity of positive detection, thus, could be used as the screening test of molecular diagnosis of MM to guide coming-up risk-adapted therapy and evaluate prognosis.