Characterizing circulating rare cells in peripheral blood for detecting and monitoring multiple myeloma and precursor states.

ABSTRACT: Multiple myeloma (MM) arises from abnormal plasma cells (PCs) progressing from precursor states, including monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM). Understanding this transition and progression to overt MM requires improved non-invasive strategies. We employed a liquid biopsy approach to detect and characterize circulating PCs across disease states in 68 patients (MGUS = 11, SMM = 21, NDMM = 19, RRMM = 17) using multi-channel immunofluorescence staining and machine learning-assisted rare event detection. PCs were identified by CD138 and B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) expressions, with distinct phenotypic subpopulations stratifying disease states. The D | CD138 | BCMA-Memb phenotype was the most predictive, with incidence increasing

SUBMITTER: Shishido SN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12672686 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature