OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of 1q21 amplification and 1p12 deletion, and analyze the correlation between these aberrations with disease progression, prognosis and outcome in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSCytoplasm light chain immunofluorescence with simultaneous interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (cIg-FISH) was used to detecte the 1q21 amplification and 1p12 deletion in 48 patients with MM.

RESULTS1q21 amplification (≥ 3 red signals) was determined in 26 of 48(54.2%) cases. The mortality of patients with 1q21 amplification was significantly higher than that of those lacking 1q21 amplification (P < 0.05). The sex, age, D-S stage, subgroup and ISS stage between patients with and without 1q21 amplification had no significant difference (P > 0.05). There was a significant difference in D-S stage and mortality between patients with 3 and with 4 copies of 1q21 (P < 0.05). No significant difference in sex, age, subgroup, ISS stage, and isotype was found between them (P > 0.05). 1p12 deletion (< 2 green signals) was found in 14 of 48 (29.2%) cases. There was no significant difference in sex, age, D-S stage, ISS stage, isotype, subgroup, and mortality between patients with and without 1p12 deletion.

CONCLUSIONThe frequency of chromosome 1 aberrations in multiple myeloma is high and 1q21 amplification is a poor prognosis factor.