Haematologica (May 2018)

A novel nano-immunoassay method for quantification of proteins from CD138-purified myeloma cells: biological and clinical utility

  • Irena Misiewicz-Krzeminska,
  • Luis Antonio Corchete,
  • Elizabeta A. Rojas,
  • Joaquín Martínez-López,
  • Ramón García-Sanz,
  • Albert Oriol,
  • Joan Bladé,
  • Juan-José Lahuerta,
  • Jesús San Miguel,
  • María-Victoria Mateos,
  • Norma C. Gutiérrez

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2017.181628
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 103, no. 5

Abstract

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Protein analysis in bone marrow samples from patients with multiple myeloma has been limited by the low concentration of proteins obtained after CD138+ cell selection. A novel approach based on capillary nano-immunoassay could make it possible to quantify dozens of proteins from each myeloma sample in an automated manner. Here we present a method for the accurate and robust quantification of the expression of multiple proteins extracted from CD138-purified multiple myeloma samples frozen in RLT Plus buffer, which is commonly used for nucleic acid preservation and isolation. Additionally, the biological and clinical value of this analysis for a panel of 12 proteins essential to the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma was evaluated in 63 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. The analysis of the prognostic impact of CRBN/Cereblon and IKZF1/Ikaros mRNA/protein showed that only the protein levels were able to predict progression-free survival of patients; mRNA levels were not associated with prognosis. Interestingly, high levels of Cereblon and Ikaros proteins were associated with longer progression-free survival only in patients who received immunomodulatory drugs and not in those treated with other drugs. In conclusion, the capillary nano-immunoassay platform provides a novel opportunity for automated quantification of the expression of more than 20 proteins in CD138+ primary multiple myeloma samples.