MicroRNA key to myeloma test

Monday October 5th, 2015

Scientists have unveiled proposals for a new test that could speed up early diagnosis of multiple myeloma.

The US findings are based on an analysis of microRNAs.

Government-funded researchers say they have found abnormal levels of microRNAs in the bone marrow of patients.

Tests could, in particular, identify patients with precursor conditions, such as smoldering myeloma or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, who are likely to progress to myeloma, the researchers say.

Some 10% of those with smoldering myeloma develop multiple myeloma each year compared with 1% of those with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance.

A study of 20 patients with myeloma found 111 microRNAs with levels at least halved or doubled in the bone marrow - compared with healthy controls.

The researchers say this led them to a finding a unique microRNA "signature" indicating myeloma. This includes eight members of the let-7 family of these substances. These were found in reduced levels in patients with myeloma - by factors of at least six.

They have reported their findings in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.

Researcher Dr Katherine Calvo, of the US National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, said: "Our findings suggest that the antiproliferative and proapoptotic microRNAs, such as the let-7 family members, are down-regulated in multiple myeloma's microenvironment.

"These findings suggest that measuring expression of microRNAs associated with myeloma progression in the peripheral blood may hold promise for predicting disease progression in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and smoldering myeloma."

Aberrant Level of microRNAs in Bone Marrow Microenvironment and Peripheral Blood of Myeloma Patients and Disease Progression Journal of Molecular Diagnostics November 2015; doi:10.1016/j.jmoldx.2015.06.006

Tags: Cancer | Genetics | North America

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