The Outlook on Multiple Myeloma

The December 15 issue of the journal Nature includes special “Outlook” section focusing on multiple myeloma. According to the National Cancer Institute, multiple myeloma or plasma cell myeloma is the second most common blood cancer in the United States accounting for about 1 percent of all cancers.  While rare, multiple myeloma is often a deadly disease. However, recent advancements in drug and stem cell therapies have improved survival rates and new strategies to identify monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), a precursor to multiple myeloma, promise even more effective treatment of the disease. Mayo Clinic experts Vincent Rajkumar, M.D., Keith Stuart, M.D. and Steven Zeldenrust, M.D. contributed to stories in the section.