Analysis of multidrug‐resistance (MDR‐1) glycoprotein and CD56 expression to separate monoclonal gammopathy from multiple myeloma

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Abstract
Summary Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is different from multiple myeloma (MM) by a low proliferation and by its indolent clinical course. In this study, two biological parameters were investigated which mark the transition from MGUS to MM, i.e. expression of the P-170 glycoprotein associated with the multidrug resistance phenotype (MDR-1) and expression of the natural killer cell antigen, CD56. Strong MDR-1 expression was found in plasma cells of 32/38 untreated MGUS as compared with 33/105 untreated MM stage I–III (84%v 32%, Pv 0%PP<0.03). These data indicate that MDR-1 expression together with absence of CD56 expression and a low proliferation index can be used to separate MGUS from MM.