MB4-2/MB4-3 transcripts of IGH-MMSET fusion gene in t(4;14)(pos) multiple myeloma indicate poor prognosis

Multiple myeloma (MM) patients with t(4;14) is a heterogeneous group. Prognostic tools capable of predicting the outcome of patients are currently lacking. The MM SET domain (MMSET) protein is universally overexpressed and has been suggested to have an important tumorigenic role. This study analyzed whether the overexpression of full-length (MB4-1) or truncated forms (MB4-2 and MB4-3) of MMSET influence the prognosis of t(4;14)(pos) MM patients. A total of 53 symptomatic t(4;14)(pos) MM patients were retrospectively analyzed. RT-PCR was performed using cDNA from purified CD138+ bone marrow plasma cells to analyze expression and clinical significance of the IGH-MMSET fusion transcripts corresponding to MB4-1, MB4-2 and MB4-3 breakpoints. Among the patients, 25 (47.2%), 12 (22.6%) and 16 (30.2%) had the MB4-1, MB4-2 and MB4-3 breakpoints, respectively. When adjusted to the established prognostic variables including del(17p), ISS stage, serum LDH and serum calcium levels, the pooled MB4-2/MB4-3 subgroup remained a powerful independent adverse factor for PFS (P=0.013) and OS (P=0.029). Bortezomib-based therapy significantly improved the survival of the MB4-1 subgroup but could not overcome the negative effect of the MB4-2/MB4-3 breakpoints. Our results indicate that MB4-2/MB4-3 breakpoints with truncated forms of MMSET define a subset of t(4;14)(pos)MM with poor prognosis.