Krüppel-like factor 4 is a transcription factor with anti-proliferative effects in differentiated cells, but with the ability to reprogram adult cells into cell-cycling pluripotent cells. In cancer, Krüppel-like factor 4 acts as either an anti-oncogene or an oncogene. We analyzed Krüppel-like factor 4 gene expression in multiple myeloma using Affymetrix microarrays. We generated conditionally e...

PURPOSE Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare form of plasma cell dyscrasia that presents either as a progression of previously diagnosed multiple myeloma, namely secondary PCL, or as initial manifestation of disease, namely primary PCL (pPCL). Although the presenting signs and symptoms include those seen in multiple myeloma, pPCL is characterized by several aspects that define a more aggressive...

OBJECTIVES Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a constituent of the myeloma microenvironment and is elevated in sera from myeloma patients compared to healthy individuals. Increased levels of serum HGF predict a poor prognosis. It has previously been shown by us and others HGF can act as a growth factor to myeloma cells in vitro although these effects have been moderate. We therefore wanted to in...

Purpose: Plasma cell leukemia (PCL) is a rare form of plasma cell dyscrasia that presents either as a progression of previously diagnosed multiple myeloma, namely secondary PCL, or as initial manifestation of disease, namely primary PCL (pPCL). Although the presenting signs and symptoms include those seen in multiple myeloma, pPCL is characterized by several aspects that define a more aggressiv...

Genetic instability and cellular proliferation have been associated with aurora kinase expression in several cancer entities, including multiple myeloma. Therefore, the expression of aurora-A, -B, and -C was determined by Affymetrix DNA microarrays in 784 samples including 2 independent sets of 233 and 345 CD138-purified myeloma cells from previously untreated patients. Chromosomal aberrations ...

The transcription factor PU.1 is essential for myeloid and B-cell development. Down-regulation of PU.1 by disruption of its 14-kb 5' upstream regulatory element induced acute myeloid leukemia, T-cell lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia-like disease in murine models. In the present study, we found that PU.1 was down-regulated in the majority of human myeloma cell lines and a subset of fre...

Recently, the prognosis of multiple myeloma has been improved by using high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT), bortezomib, and immunomodulatory drugs including thalidomide and lenalidomide. On the other hand, treatment strategy remains difficult for refractory and relapse cases. Here, we report the successful treatment of low-dose lenalid...

BACKGROUND Multiple myeloma SET domain (MMSET)/nuclear receptor binding SET domain 2 (NSD2) is a lysine histone methyltransferase (HMTase) and bona fide oncoprotein found aberrantly expressed in several cancers, suggesting potential role for novel therapeutic strategies. In particular, MMSET/NSD2 is emerging as a target for therapeutic interventions against multiple myeloma, especially t(4;14) ...

Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is the standard of care in transplant-eligible multiple myeloma patients and is associated with significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS), complete remission rates (CR), and overall survival (OS). However, majority of patients eventually relapse, with a median PFS of around 36 months. Relapses are harder to treat and prognosis declines wit...

BACKGROUND As rare myelomas, i.e. the IgD, IgE, IgM and non-secretory forms, constitute only a small proportion of any study, relatively little is known about their prognosis in the era of peripheral stem cell transplantation. DESIGN AND METHODS We used the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation Myeloma Database to compare the outcome following autologous transplantation of over ...