Test for bone marrow cancer type now available

Written by Dr. H. P. Bustami

Sunday, 25 October 2009

The micrograph shows abundant (malignant) plasma cells with the occasional Mott cell, a plasma cell with an intracytoplasmic Russell bodies (an eosinophilic uniformly staining membrane bound body which contains immunoglobulin). Wikimedia Commons, Author: Nephron

Plasmacytoma is a certain kind of bone marrow cancer which leads to an uncontrolled growth of plasma cells. The plasma cells conduct a part of our immune system and belong to the white blood cells. They are produced in the bone marrow and are released into our bloodstream. Within families concerned the plasmacytoma occurs more often than in average families. Now a research group from the University Hospital of Saarland, Germany, published in "The Lancet Oncology" new results showing that the occurrence of plasmacytoma can be hereditary.

It is assumed that plasmacytoma is caused by proteins in the body (named paraproteins) which are falsely identified by the plasma cells (they are as part of our immune system responsible for the production of antibodies) as antigens. The plasma cells are constantly stimulated by the paraproteins leading to their malignant degeneration and eventually to the dangerous cancer.

Cause located in the genes?

The workgroup of Prof. Michael Pfreundschuh (MD), director of the Department of Internal Medicine, found that 15% of the patients with plasmacytoma which have been treated showed antibodies against the same paraprotein-antigen. Probably this certain paraprotein stimulates the plasma cells because its structure is modified in the patients compared to "normal" persons: it contains an additonal phosphate group and this seems to be hereditary fixed in the genes. This is the explanation why in families with cases of this cancer type an accumulation can be observed.

The doctors in the University Hospital of Saarland provide for the first time a genetical test for "Paratarg-7", the gene that encodes the paraprotein-modification whith the permanent stimulation of the plasma cells.

The test is provided for free by Carreras-Center of Immune and Gentherapie at the University of Saarland in Germany.

Phone: 0049/(0)6841-162-3084

Further information: http://www.uniklinikum-saarland.de/de/einrichtungen/kliniken_institute/onkologie

Sources:
-"The Lancet Oncology" (2009; Band 10, S. 970-976)

- idw-online.de

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