Multiple Myeloma Epidemiology and Survival, a Unique Malignancy

Multiple myeloma (MM), although a rare disease, is the second most common hematologic malignancy. It is found in the spectrum of plasma cell dyscrasias which begins with monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance to overt plasma cell leukemia and extramedullary myeloma. MM is associated with significant morbidity due to its end-organ destruction. It is a disease of the older population and its incidence in the African American population is twice that of the European American population. Improvements in the treatment of MM in the past couple of decades, beginning with the use of autologous stem cell transplantation followed by availability of novel treatments such as immunomodulatory drugs and proteasome inhibitors has transformed the natural history of the disease leading to longer survival times.

Source: Seminars in Oncology - November 9, 2016 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Dickran Kazandjian Source Type: research