A P2X7 receptor gene polymorphism 1513 A-->C has recently been suggested as playing a role in the pathogenesis and disease progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, although several studies have failed to show any effect of the polymorphism. The effects of this polymorphism were analysed in 136 patients with multiple myeloma. The frequency of the polymorphism in the myeloma samples was not significantly different from that found in normal healthy controls. There was no significant difference in age at diagnosis, creatinine, hemoglobin, beta-2 microglobulin, immunoglobulin sub-type, duration of first response and overall survival. These results are in keeping with findings in a cohort of 121 chronic lymphocytic leukemia and do not support a role for this polymorphism in multiple myeloma.