Bone marrow plasma cell microaggregates detected by immunohistology predict earlier relapse in patients with minimal disease after high-dose therapy for myeloma

Abstract

Plasma cell microaggregates detected by CD138 immunohistology were demonstrated in 22% of patients achieving morphologic remission 3 months after high-dose therapy for myeloma. Microaggregates were predictive of earlier disease progression, indicating that immunohistology may represent a useful tool in the assessment of minimal disease in patients after high-dose therapy for myeloma.