This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ely, S. A. Articles by Knowles, D. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ely, S. A. Articles by Knowles, D. M.

(American Journal of Pathology. 2002;160:1293-1299.)
© 2002 American Society for Investigative Pathology

Regular Articles

Expression of CD56/Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule Correlates with the Presence of Lytic Bone Lesions in Multiple Myeloma and Distinguishes Myeloma from Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance and Lymphomas with Plasmacytoid Differentiation

From the Department of Pathology, Weill Medical College of CornellUniversity, New York, New York

Unlike monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHLs) with plasmacytoid differentiation, multiple myeloma (MM) is commonly associated with lytic bone lesions. Although the mechanisms of increased osteoclast activity are partially understood, comparatively little is known about the mechanisms that lead to the observed decrease in osteoblast function. Studies have shown neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) homophilic binding between MM cell lines and osteosarcoma cell lines, and that binding results in decreased osteoid production in vitro. Thus, we postulated that the expression of NCAM by MM cells contributes to lytic lesion formation by causing decreased osteoid production in vivo. We used immunohistochemistry in bone marrow core biopsies to assess NCAM expression in osteoblasts and plasma cells (PCs) in vitro. We found consistent, strong, uniform NCAM expression by the osteoblasts in all bone marrow core biopsies (352 of 352, 100%). Strong expression of NCAM by PCs correlated with the presence of lytic bone lesions (chi-square, 33.39: P <0.000; odds ratio, 16.9). There was also a strong correlation between NCAM expression and the diagnosis of MM in comparison to reactive PCs, MGUS, or NHLs with plasmacytoid differentiation (all P values <0.000). In conclusion, using immunohistochemistry, we found strong expression of NCAM by osteoblasts and that when equal to the intensity of osteoblast expression, NCAM expression by PCs correlates with the presence of lytic bone lesions and distinguishes MM from reactive plasmacytosis, NHLs with plasmacytoid differentiation, and most cases of MGUS.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. M. Harrington, P. Hari, and S. H. Kroft Utility of CD56 Immunohistochemical Studies in Follow-up of Plasma Cell Myeloma Am J Clin Pathol, July 1, 2009; 132(1): 60 - 66. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Gattenlohner, T. Stuhmer, E. Leich, M. Reinhard, B. Etschmann, H.-U. Volker, A. Rosenwald, E. Serfling, R. C. Bargou, G. Ertl, et al. Specific Detection of CD56 (NCAM) Isoforms for the Identification of Aggressive Malignant Neoplasms with Progressive Development Am. J. Pathol., April 1, 2009; 174(4): 1160 - 1171. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Silvestris, P. Cafforio, M. De Matteo, N. Calvani, M. A. Frassanito, and F. Dammacco Negative Regulation of the Osteoblast Function in Multiple Myeloma through the Repressor Gene E4BP4 Activated by Malignant Plasma Cells Clin. Cancer Res., October 1, 2008; 14(19): 6081 - 6091. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R Joshi, D Horncastle, K Elderfield, I Lampert, A Rahemtulla, and K N Naresh Bone marrow trephine combined with immunohistochemistry is superior to bone marrow aspirate in follow-up of myeloma patients J. Clin. Pathol., February 1, 2008; 61(2): 213 - 216. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Giuliani, V. Rizzoli, and G. D. Roodman Multiple myeloma bone disease: pathophysiology of osteoblast inhibition Blood, December 15, 2006; 108(13): 3992 - 3996. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. N. Pearse Wnt antagonism in multiple myeloma: a potential cause of uncoupled bone remodeling. Clin. Cancer Res., October 15, 2006; 12(20): 6274s - 6278s. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Giuliani, S. Colla, F. Morandi, M. Lazzaretti, R. Sala, S. Bonomini, M. Grano, S. Colucci, M. Svaldi, and V. Rizzoli Myeloma cells block RUNX2/CBFA1 activity in human bone marrow osteoblast progenitors and inhibit osteoblast formation and differentiation Blood, October 1, 2005; 106(7): 2472 - 2483. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Kouno, T. Watanabe, T. Umeda, Y. Beppu, R. Kojima, K. Sungwon, Y. Kobayashi, K. Tobinai, T. Hasegawa, and Y. Matsuno CD56-positive Small Round Cell Tumor: Osseous Plasmacytoma Manifested in Osteolytic Tumors of the Iliac Bone and Femora Jpn. J. Clin. Oncol., February 1, 2005; 35(2): 90 - 93. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Montalban, J. Martin-Aresti, J. L. Patier, J. M.-S. Millan, and M. G. Cosio Unusual Cases in Multiple Myeloma and a Dramatic Response in Metastatic Lung Cancer: CASE 3. Intracranial Plasmacytoma With Cranial Nerve Neuropathy in Multiple Myeloma J. Clin. Oncol., January 1, 2005; 23(1): 233 - 235. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Burton, S. Ely, P. K. Reddy, R. Stein, D. V. Gold, T. M. Cardillo, and D. M. Goldenberg CD74 Is Expressed by Multiple Myeloma and Is a Promising Target for Therapy Clin. Cancer Res., October 1, 2004; 10(19): 6606 - 6611. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Tassone, A. Gozzini, V. Goldmacher, M. A. Shammas, K. R. Whiteman, D. R. Carrasco, C. Li, C. K. Allam, S. Venuta, K. C. Anderson, et al. In Vitro and in Vivo Activity of the Maytansinoid Immunoconjugate huN901-N2'-Deacetyl-N2'-(3-Mercapto-1-Oxopropyl)-Maytansine against CD56+ Multiple Myeloma Cells Cancer Res., July 1, 2004; 64(13): 4629 - 4636. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Barille-Nion, B. Barlogie, R. Bataille, P. L. Bergsagel, J. Epstein, R. G. Fenton, J. Jacobson, W. M. Kuehl, J. Shaughnessy, and G. Tricot Advances in Biology and Therapy of Multiple Myeloma Hematology, January 1, 2003; 2003(1): 248 - 278. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]