Multiple Myeloma

Overview

Mayo Clinic is one the world's premier multiple myeloma treatment centers, with more than 60 years of experience treating this blood disorder. Mayo has a large myeloma treatment group, comprising more than 20 physicians, who treat about 1,000 myeloma patients each year.

Mayo Clinic is also a world leader in multiple myeloma research. Researchers at Mayo have played a key role in developing new treatments, including the medications thalidomide and lenalidomide, and continue to study new therapies. Mayo researchers helped characterize a precursor condition (monoclonal gammopathy), identified prognostic factors that predict the course of the disease, and developed new systems for classifying the disease.

Based on this groundbreaking work, Mayo researchers believe multiple myeloma may be not one disease but a collection of genetically distinct disorders that require different therapies. Mayo Clinic tailors treatment to a patient's needs and condition. The approach includes standard medications and experimental therapies as well as diet and lifestyle management.

Mayo Clinic's integrated group practice gives patients rapid access to multiple specialists. Hematologists provide primary care for multiple myeloma patients and work closely with Mayo's bone marrow transplant teams, which have performed more than 1,000 transplants for myeloma patients. Consultations can also be arranged with other specialists, such as orthopedic surgeons or radiation oncologists, as needed.

Diagnosis

A series of blood and urine tests as well as X-rays are done when myeloma is suspected, based on multiple myeloma symptoms. Bone marrow is also tested for myeloma cells and to identify underlying changes in cell development that can help determine prognosis. Mayo Clinic has pioneered systems for stratifying multiple myeloma into high-risk and standard-risk categories that help in forming individualized treatment plans. Precise diagnoses mean treatment plans can address patients' needs. Read more about multiple myeloma diagnosis.

Treatment

Mayo Clinic is at the forefront of developing new myeloma treatments. Although no cure exists, many effective therapies are available that greatly prolong survival and improve patients' quality of life.

If a patient has a stable form of myeloma, called smoldering multiple myeloma, the hematologist may recommend no treatment. Patients with precancerous monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) also need no therapy, and are monitored for progression to myeloma.

Patients with non-stable myeloma require immediate treatment. Chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant are the primary options. Read more about multiple myeloma treatment.

About Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma, also known as plasma myeloma or Kahler's disease, is a cancer of the plasma cells. Almost 20,000 new cases of plasma cell myeloma occur in the U.S. each year. Plasma cells are found in bone marrow, the blood-producing tissue that fills in spaces within bone.

In a person with multiple myeloma, abnormal plasma cells (or myeloma cells) multiply. The growth of myeloma cells results in reduced blood production, which in turn leads to anemia and fatigue. Bone damage may also cause painful rib and spinal-compression fractures. In a small number of patients, the protein that is produced by the plasma cells damages kidneys.

Almost all multiple myeloma evolves from a precancerous condition known as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Multiple myeloma is not contagious and generally is not inherited. It is almost twice as common in African-Americans as Caucasians, and slightly more common in men than women. The median age at diagnosis is 66. Only 2 percent of patients are under 40.

Read more about multiple myeloma at MayoClinic.com.