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Comparison of SPE, IFE, and FLC in Monitoring Patients with Multiple Myeloma After Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

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Abstract

Conventionally, serum protein electrophoresis (SPE) and serum immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) are used as primary methods to diagnose and monitor multiple myeloma (MM). Recently, serum-free light chain (FLC) assay has been incorporated into hematological screening programs for myeloma. The purpose of this study is to compare the performance of the three methods in monitoring MM patients after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). SPE, serum IFE and serum FLC assay were performed on 38 MM patients who underwent ASCT. In total, four patients had unexpected protein bands (UPBs) and 13 patients had relapsed after ASCT. Our results indicate that IFE is more sensitive than SPE and FLC assay in detection of UPBs and relapse. The results of IFE may provide useful information in advance of patient relapse.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 81472296, 81101867, 81272542, 81200369 and 81372443), Jiangsu Provincial Special Program of Medical Science (BL2012005), Jiangsu Province’s Key Medical Center (ZX201102), the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD), National clinical key subject construction project, National Public Health Grand Research Foundation (No. 201202017), National High-tech R&D Program (863 Program) (2011AA020105), the China International Medical Foundation (Grant No. CIMF–F–H001–057), the Medical Scientific Research Project of Jiangsu Provincial Bureau of Health (Grant No. Z201206), the Special Foundation of Wu Jieping Medical Foundation for Clinical Scientific Research (Grant Nos. 320.6753.1225 and 320.6750.12242) and a Project Founded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions.

Conflict of interests

The authors claim no conflict of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Shizi Street 188, Suzhou, 215006, China

    Jia-Zi Zhou, Hui-Rong Chang, Li-Jun Dai, Zi-Ling Zhu, Yu-Feng Feng, Fei-Ran Gong & De-Pei Wu

  2. Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China

    Wei Li

  3. PREMED Key Laboratory for Precision Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, China

    Wei Li

  4. Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China

    Jia-Zi Zhou, Hui-Rong Chang, Li-Jun Dai, Zi-Ling Zhu, Yu-Feng Feng, Fei-Ran Gong & De-Pei Wu

  5. Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China

    Jia-Zi Zhou, Hui-Rong Chang, Li-Jun Dai, Zi-Ling Zhu, Yu-Feng Feng, Fei-Ran Gong & De-Pei Wu

  6. Key Laboratory of Thrombosis and Hemostasis of Ministry of Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China

    Jia-Zi Zhou, Hui-Rong Chang, Li-Jun Dai, Zi-Ling Zhu, Yu-Feng Feng, Fei-Ran Gong & De-Pei Wu

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  1. Wei Li
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  2. Jia-Zi Zhou
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  3. Hui-Rong Chang
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Correspondence to Fei-Ran Gong or De-Pei Wu.

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Li, W., Zhou, JZ., Chang, HR. et al. Comparison of SPE, IFE, and FLC in Monitoring Patients with Multiple Myeloma After Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation. Cell Biochem Biophys 73, 643–647 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-015-0655-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12013-015-0655-z

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