1: Br J Haematol 1995 Jun;90(2):459-61

Clinicopathological correlates of CD56 expression in multiple myeloma: a unique
entity?

Mathew P, Ahmann GJ, Witzig TE, Roche PC, Kyle RA, Greipp PR

Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
55905, USA.

Prior studies have suggested that loss of plasma cell CD56 expression in
multiple myeloma defines a unique patient subset and that CD56 expression
reliably discriminates between monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined
significance (MGUS) and multiple myeloma (MM). We conducted a study of 68
untreated patients with MM from a single institution to define the
clinicopathological correlates of CD56 expression. We find CD56 expression in
55% of MM. Lack of CD56 expression does not define a unique clinicopathological
or prognostic entity in MM. Strong CD56 expression can also be found in MGUS and
does not help to distinguish from MM.

PMID: 7540857, UI: 95315038