Lack of preferential localization of tumoral mass in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma associated with hepatitis C virus infection.

Hospital General Universitario There were no significant differences between patient groups comparing other clinical characteristics, including age, advanced lytic Valencia, Spain M. Linares bone lesions, creatinin levels, and type of treatment. Loss of CD56 Servicio de Hematologia antigen, which was postulated to contribute to the leukemic expresHospital Comarcal de Vinaroz sion in MM, was also similar. Valencia, Spain Because there was a strong correlation between HPC and stage III of MM, a separate analysis of survival was made including only REFERENCES patients in stage III. Statistically significant differences in survival 1. Witzig T, Gertz M, Lust J, Kyle R, O’Fallon W, Greipp R: were observed as complete series (Fig 1B). In addition, HPC before Peripheral blood monoclonal plasma cells as predictor of survival treatment was associated to a low response rate (x test, P õ .05). in patients with multiple myeloma. Blood 88:1780, 1996 In conclusion, the methodology described allows us to easily iden2. Kosm M, Gale R: Plasma cell leukemia. Semin Hematol tify and quantify circulating plasmatic cells in an important propor24:202, 1987 tion of MM patients, as well as to establish the proliferative index 3. Cordone I, Matutes E, Catovsky D: Characterisation of normal of disease. We confirm the adverse prognostic implications of PBPC peripheral blood cells in cycle identified by the monoclonal antibody in MM observed by Witzyg et al. In our series, the proportion of Ki-67. J Clin Pathol 45:201, 1992 PBPC identified a subgroup of MM characterized by advanced stage, 4. Kaplan E, Meier P: Non-parametric estimation for incomplete poor status performance, high proliferative index, and short survival. observations. J Am Stat Assoc 53:457, 1958 5. Van Reit I, De Waele M, Remels L, Lacor P, Schots R, Van F. Tarin Camp B: Expression of cytoadhesion molecules (CD56, CD54, M. Orero CD18 and CD29) by myeloma plasma cells. Br J Haematol 79:421, 1991 A. Miguel Garcia