PHD finger protein 19 expression in multiple myeloma: Association with clinical features, induction therapy outcome, disease progression, and survival.

BACKGROUND PHD finger protein 19 (PHF19), also known as polycomb-like protein 3 (PCL3), promotes the progression of multiple myeloma (MM) and drug resistance; however, its role in the management of MM remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the correlation between PHF19 expression and treatment response, disease progression, and survival of patients with MM. METHODS Plasma cells derived from the bone marrow of 101 patients with de novo MM were collected prior to induction therapy, as were plasma cells derived from the bone marrow of 30 healthy donors. PHF19 expression in plasma cells was analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, the response to induction therapy, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were assessed. RESULTS PHF19 expression tends to be upregulated more often in MM patients than in healthy donors (p < 0.001) and can accurately predict MM risk (area under curve [AUC], 0.916; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.869-0.962). Furthermore, elevated PHF19 expression was correlated with higher International Staging System (ISS) (p = 0.036) and revised ISS stages (p = 0.035). In addition, MM patients who achieved complete response (CR) exhibited reduced PHF19 compared to those who did not (p = 0.028). Moreover, increased PHF19 expression was correlated with unfavorable PFS (p = 0.006) and OS (p = 0.027) rates. Furthermore, the results of multivariate Cox analysis also revealed that PHF19 high expression was independently associated with a reduced PFS rate (hazard ratio: 2.025, p = 0.028). CONCLUSION Increased PHF19 expression is correlated with poor induction therapy response and unfavorable long-term prognosis of MM.