About Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a complex disease primarily affecting older adults.[1] This page will explore the evolution, underlying biology and epidemiology of MM.

About Multiple Myeloma

The evolution of multiple myeloma

In the majority of patients MM evolves from an asymptomatic pre-malignant precursor known as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).[2]

Graph

Adapted from Kyle et al. 2007,[3] Rajkumar et al. 2014[4] and Mateos et al. 2018[5]

MGUS, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance; MM, multiple myeloma; SMM, smouldering multiple myeloma

Smouldering multiple myeloma

Smouldering MM found in some patients presents an asymptomatic clinical stage that sits between MGUS and active MM.[2] The estimated incidence of smouldering MM is between 0.4 and 0.9 cases per 100,000 people.[6]

Rate of progression

While approximately 1% of MGUS cases progress to MM per year, the rate of progression for smouldering MM is a lot higher – overall about 10% of patients per year progress within 5 years of diagnosis.[3][4] The risk of progression from smouldering MM to active disease varies between patients, and they can be grouped as being at low-, intermediate- or high-risk of progression.[5]

Complexity of multiple myeloma

In symptomatic MM, malignant plasma cells undergo clonal expansion in the bone marrow.[7] In almost all cases of MM (97%), these plasma cells secrete a monoclonal immunoglobulin – referred to as the M-protein.[8] A very small percentage of patients, however, will have a non-secretory form of the disease.[8]

Abnormal free light chain (FLC) ratio

The proliferating clonal plasma cells also produce an excess of either κ or λ light immunoglobulin chains, which circulate freely in the serum, unbound to heavy chains.[9] This over-production of one free light chain (FLC) – known as the involved FLC – leads to an abnormal FLC ratio (the normal ratio for FLC-kλ is 0.26–1.65).[4][9] Some patients with MGUS (~one third) or smouldering MM (~70%) show altered FLC ratio, which is related to risk of progression of MM.[4]

The development of genetic abnormalities leads to the proliferation of abnormal plasma cells that may result in heterogeneous tumour cell clusters at multiple sites.[10][11]



Pathogenesis of multiple myeloma

Learn about the pathological effects of MM, including elevated calcium, renal failure, anaemia and bone lesions (collectively known as 'CRAB' symptoms[2]), and infections like pneumonia.[12] The underlying genetic mechanisms that lead to tumour heterogeneity and ultimately disease progression will be discussed in this video, highlighting why the heterogeneous nature of MM makes treatment very challenging.[4][7][10]

Epidemiology of multiple myeloma

MM represents 1% of all cancers diagnosed in Europe and approximately 10% of haematological malignancies.[2][13]

Even though survival rates are increasing, MM remains an incurable disease.[14] Global 5-year survival rates are now about 50–60% in patients aged 65–70 years or younger.[15]

1%
10%
12 deaths

Mortality rates

Worldwide, around 106,000 people die each year – 12 people every hour – from this disease.[16] In 2018, 30,900 people died from MM in Europe alone.[13]

Age

The median age at diagnosis for MM is 69 years.[17] The majority of people are first diagnosed when they are 65 years of age or older, while about one-third of newly diagnosed patients are at least 75 years of age.[1]

Age at diagnosis

Age at diagnosis

Gender

Men are at a slightly increased risk of developing MM compared with women.[16][17][18][19]

Race

MM is approximately twice as common among black patients as white patients.[18][19] Black patients have lower overall survival compared with white patients.[20]

Find out more

Focusing on Diagnosis

Early diagnosis is critical in MM.[21] An array of diagnostic methods can be used to characterise a patient’s MM, allowing for individualised treatment and management.

Response Measurements

The right treatment plan can improve a patient's response. Find out how treatment response is measured and what strides are being taken to optimise it.

CP-275046 - May 2022