Serhan Alkan, MD
Director of Hematopathology and Molecular Diagnostics
Vitro Molecular Laboratories

Topic:"Multiple Myeloma and Other Plasmacytoid Cell Disorders Histopathologic Approach and Pathogenesis"

Objectives:

• Understand pathogenesis of plasma cell disorders.
• Improve histologic diagnosis of disorders presenting with plasma cells.
• Increase perspective on use of molecular assays in the context of plasma cell disorders.
• Develop new concept for translational research application for treatment of multiple myeloma.

Presenting histologic features of various hematopoietic disorders that primarily show plasma cells or plasmacytoid cells. The most common and important entity includes multiple myeloma. Despite the ease of diagnosis in many patients with this disorder, there are number of different entities show a significant overlap with multiple myeloma. Therefore, all of the other disorders should be familiar to pathologists in order to prevent misdiagnosis. In addition, I will briefly outline some of our research efforts, primarily with emphasis on translational clinical research looking for potential use of novel agents for the treatment of multiple myeloma as well as real time PCR analysis of miRNA in multiple myeloma patients carrying 13q deletion, that indicates poorer clinical outcome if present by karyotypic analysis.