Houston, August 18, 2025 — Baylor Genetics, a clinical diagnostic laboratory at the forefront of genetic testing, today announced their participation at the Annual Meeting of the Cancer Genomics Consortium, which took place August 3-6, 2025, in Houston, TX.
What:
Baylor Genetics presented a scientific poster titled “Continued Utility of Chromosome Analysis for Plasma Cell Disorders,” highlighting the diagnostic value of conventional chromosome analysis alongside plasma cell-enriched FISH testing. The study reinforces the importance of a comprehensive approach to cytogenetic testing, showing that chromosome analysis can reveal additional, clinically relevant anomalies often missed by FISH alone.
Who:
Dr. Janice Smith, Senior Clinical Director at Baylor Genetics and Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine
Why It Matters:
While plasma cell-enriched FISH has become a mainstay in the evaluation of Plasma Cell Neoplasm (PCN) due to its high detection rate for common abnormalities, this study underscores that chromosome analysis still plays a vital complementary role. In a review of over 1,500 cases with PCN-related indications, chromosome analysis revealed:
Key Findings:
- Constitutional and acquired abnormalities not detected by FISH
- Complex clonal architecture in advanced disease stages
- Co-existing myeloid and lymphoid clones that could influence treatment and prognosis
- Structural variants, such as unbalanced translocations and chromosomal deletions, with potential diagnostic or prognostic relevance
The findings support a dual testing approach—FISH and chromosome analysis—for a more complete genetic picture, particularly in cases with atypical clinical features or evolving disease.
