Flow cytometry of cell suspensions from lymph nodes : immunophenotype , DNA content and proliferative rate are strongly correlated with histopathology diagnosis

In the same study the authors remarked on the possibility of pamidronate improving survival in MM patients, probably by reducing IL-6 production. Other authors have also shown that in vitro pamidronate inhibits the production of IL-6 and induces apoptosis of myeloma cells.4 Recently, Dhodapkar et al.5 reported on 2 MM patients whose disease stabilized well with monthly cycles of intravenous pamidronate. Thus, they conclude that this therapy directed at the myeloma microenvironment might alter the natural history of myeloma delaying the requirement for chemotherapy. We report here the case history of a patient with MM evolved from a MGUS, whose myeloma clone after treatment with monthly cycles of pamidronate showed a transient response.