By creating a multicenter network (N =6) we will have study centers in Massachusetts (1), California (2), New York (1), North Carolina (1) and Florida (1), enabling us to evaluate 50 patients 60 or older with λ SMM or λ MGUS and to determine based on gene identification whether their clonal λ IGVL genes are AL-related. This approach will identify undiagnosed patients early in the course of AL and patients at risk for AL.

Testing for markers such as λ IGVL germline genes is highly complex as defined by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) (42 USC 263a). We will continue identifying clonal λ IGVL genes with RT-PCR using cDNA derived from bone marrow CD138-selected plasma cells in our research lab, and have partnered with a CLIA-certified diagnostic laboratory, the Columbia University Laboratory of Personalized Genomic Medicine, in order to develop and validate a next generation sequencing (NGS) approach as a CLIA compliant B-cell Gene Rearrangement Test (BCGR, CPT: 81261).

The multicenter trial will employ bone marrow aspirate mononuclear cells in two ways. First, a portion of each patient's marrow mononuclear cells will be used directly for cDNA for NGS and a portion used to select CD138+ plasma cells for cDNA for RT-PCR and NGS. The use of cDNA derived from bone marrow aspirate mononuclear cells for NGS would save the step of selection and be more convenient if it is equally informative. Criteria identifying specimens that likely do or do not require CD138-selection may be identified in this process.