Cd56 as prognostic marker in multiple myeloma - tlooto, The Most Powerful AcademicGPT

CD56, also known as neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), is an immunophenotypic marker commonly expressed on malignant plasma cells in multiple myeloma (MM). Its presence or absence on plasma cells has garnered significant attention as a prognostic marker—affecting risk stratification, understanding of disease biology, and potentially therapeutic decision-making. Prevalence and Expression Patterns CD56 is expressed on myeloma cells in approximately 65–80% of MM patients, as shown by flow cytometry across clinical cohorts [1][2][3]. By contrast, normal plasma cells in the bone marrow do not typically express CD56, which makes this molecule not only a diagnostic marker for malignant plasma cells but also useful for minimal residual disease evaluation [2][4]. Prognostic Significance of CD56 Expression Extensive clinical and meta-analytic studies indicate that the absence of CD56 expression (i.e., CD56-negative MM) is an independent marker of aggressive disease and adverse clinical outcom