MULTIPLE-MYELOMA - CIRCULATING LYMPHOCYTES THAT EXPRESS PLASMA-CELL ANTIGENS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 64  (2) , 352-356
Abstract
The bone marrow and peripheral blood of 14 patients with multiple myeloma were studied with murine monoclonal antibodies that identify antigens on plasma cells (R1-3 and OKT10). Peripheral blood lymphocytes expressing plasma cell antigens were found in 6 cases. Five of these cases expressed the same antigens that were present on the plasma cells in the bone marrow. Patients that showed such peripheral blood involvement were found to have a larger tumor burden and higher bone marrow plasma cell proliferative activity. In some patients, antigens normally found at earlier stages of B cell differentiation (B1, B2 and J5) were expressed by peripheral blood lymphocytes and/or bone marrow plasma cells.