S0334 Analyzing Chromosomes in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma or Other Blood Disease

OBJECTIVES:

• Compare the frequency of deletion 13 as detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and conventional cytogenetics in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) or other monoclonal gammopathies (MG).
• Examine the prognostic value of specific subsets of chromosome aberrations detected by conventional cytogenetics and FISH in relation to event-free and overall survival in these patients.
• Compare the prognostic value of cytogenetics and FISH with other MM and MG prognostic factors in these patients.
• Correlate the presence of cytogenetic and FISH features with clinical pathophysiological, cellular, or other molecular characteristics in these patients.

OUTLINE: Patients receive treatment as directed by the treatment clinical trial on which they are registered. Patients undergo bone marrow or blood sample collection periodically for conventional cytogenetic analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization studies (FISH). Samples are analyzed for deleted 13q/monosomy 13 and chromosomal abnormalities.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 500 patients will be accrued for this study.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of 1 of the following:

• Multiple myeloma (MM)
• Smoldering myeloma
• Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM)
• Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
• Amyloidosis (AL)
• Newly diagnosed disease
• Must be currently registered, but have not begun therapy, on 1 of the following Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) treatment clinical trials:

• SWOG-S0115
• SWOG-S0232
• SWOG-S0340
• All new SWOG coordinated MM, smoldering myeloma, WM, MGUS, or AL clinical trials activated on or after the activation date of this research study (SWOG-S0334)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics