Myeloma: making sense of a complex blood cancer

Abstract

Myeloma is a challenging blood cancer characterized by bone destruction, hypercalcaemia, renal insufficiency and anaemia. Although myeloma remains incurable, recent advancements in treatments have resulted in significant improvements in morbidity. The use of immunomodulatory drugs, thalidomide, lenalidomide, pomalidomide (in clinical trials) and the proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib, in conjunction with conventional chemotherapy and supportive therapies have resulted in a major shift in approach to treatment and an improvement in patients' quality of life. Nurses need to keep up to date with current treatments for myeloma and their related side effects. In addition, nurses play a key role in the coordinating the multidisciplinary approach to care for myeloma patients.

Multiple Myeloma Genomics: A Systematic Review

“…One of the characterizations of MM is the abnormal production of immunoglobulins, also known as the M proteins. 10 MM exists on a spectrum of plasma cell disorders beginning with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), which advances to asymptomatic MM then to symptomatic MM, and finally to extramedullary or plasma cell leukemia. 1,2,6 The evolution of MGUS occurs through branching evolution evidenced by numerous mutations and genomic aberrations at both the clonal and subclonal levels, thus contributing to the genomic heterogeneity of MM.…”