Heterochromatic variants and their association with neoplasias: III. Multiple myeloma.

The incidence of heterochromatic variants was assessed in 26 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and 55 control individuals. An enhanced frequency of heteromorphism was present in 92% of the MM population compared with 44% of the control group (p less than 0.001). Significant differences with regard to controls were observed in chromosome pairs #1, #9, and #16 due to 1qh-, inv(1),inv(9) and 16qh- variants. We suggest that MM would present an intermediate heterochromatic behavior between hematologic diseases and solid tumors.