Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells — a type of white blood cell that produces infection-fighting antibodies (immunoglobulins). It is one of a number of related blood disorders called monoclonal gammopathies, which include systemic light-chain amyloidosis (AL), a rare and often fatal disease, and less serious disease conditions, such as solitary plasmacytoma and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). “Monoclonal” means that a single family of identical plasma cells — a clone — is causing the disease; “gammopathy” indicates that the body’s production of immunoglobulins (antibodies) is abnormally high. In a healthy individual, plasma cells make up between 0.2 to 2.8 percent of the bone marrow white cell count. In people with multiple myeloma or a related disease, abnormal plasma cells proliferate and can comprise 10 percent or more of the bone marrow’s cells, crowding out healthy cells.

Overview
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow that arises when plasma cells become malignant, invade the marrow, multiply uncontrollably, and disrupt normal bone function. These abnormal cells can also cause a number of other serious problems throughout the body. Patients with this condition develop malignant tumors in more than one spot, thus the name “multiple” myeloma. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 19,920 people in the United States will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2008 (11,190 men and 8,730 women). Read More on Myeloma

For more Information:
www.MSKCC.org

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