Home > Myeloma Cellular Markers
Cell surface molecule expression in myeloma cells
Multiple Myeloma is a mature B-cell neoplasm characterized by dysregulated clonal
expansion of
malignant plasma cells.6
This transformation of healthy to malignant cells
results in a change in the cell surface molecules that allows for identification of
myeloma cells.
Some of these markers include upregulation of key molecules that are believed to
alter myeloma
function. Examples of cell-surface molecules that are expressed in plasma cells but
can show increased
expression in myeloma clonal-cells include BCMA, CD38, and CD138.30-32
B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor
superfamily that
plays an important role in regulating B cell proliferation and survival.33
BCMA is expressed
on the cell membrane of normal and malignant B lymphocytes and plasma cells, but not
other normal tissues.34,35
When bound to its ligands BAFF and APRIL, BCMA
delivers pro-survival cell signaling.36
BCMA is central to the survival of multiple myeloma
cells.33
BCMA, BAFF, and APRIL are all expressed at
significantly higher levels in patients with multiple myeloma than in healthy
individuals.33,37
Overexpression leads to upregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins and the survival of
multiple myeloma
cells.33
Upregulation of BCMA also correlates with disease
burden and poor prognosis in multiple myeloma.33
CD38 can be used to identify both normal plasma and myeloma cells, is a marker of
cell activation,
and is an important regulator of cell adhesion and signal transduction.30
CD138, a
heparan-sulfate coated glycoprotein, is important for adhesion and survival in the
BM niche.30,38
CD56, a neural cell adhesion molecule, is not expressed in normal plasma cells, but
can be highly
expressed in MM cells and may play a role in prognosis.30,39
Conversely, CD19 is
downregulated in most MM cases. Pre-clinical data suggests the loss of CD19 could
contribute to the
proliferative advantage of malignant plasma cell clones in MM.30,40
Other key surface markers are
listed in the figure below.30
Key surface markers for detection of myeloma cells30,32
