I was surprised to read today that multiple myeloma is an affliction that occurs in dogs, cats and horses, not just us humans. From the Wikipedia article about multiple myeloma:
"Multiple myeloma affects many other species. The disease has been diagnosed in dogs, cats, and horses.
In dogs, multiple myeloma accounts for around 8% of all haemopoietic tumors. Multiple myeloma occurs in older dogs, and is not particularly associated with either males or females. No breeds appear overrepresented in case reviews that have been conducted. Diagnosis in dogs is usually delayed due to the initial non specificity and range of clinical signs possible. Diagnosis usually involves bone marrow studies, X-rays, and plasma protein studies. In dogs, protein studies usually reveal the monoclonal gammaglobulin elevation to be IgA or IgG in equal incidence. In rare cases the globulin elevation is IgM, which is referred to as Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. The prognosis for initial control and return to good quality of life in dogs is good. 43% of dogs started on a combination chemotherapeutic protocol achieved complete remission. Long-term survival is normal, with a median of 540 days reported. The disease eventually recurs, becoming resistant to available therapies. The complications of kidney failure, sepsis, or pain can lead to an animal's death, frequently by euthanasia."
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wenlock00 - Name: Wenlock00
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March 2017
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Multiple myeloma in dogs, cats and horses
Hi Wenlock00,
The 'adaptive' immune system, which allows vertebrates to fight viruses and other invaders to our systems, includes the immunoglobulins. These make our antibodies. In this article from Cornell University, it is mentioned that a dogs, cats, horses, cattle and llamas can be tested for immunoglobulins. I think that in theory, all vertebrates could be tested for those bio molecules!
Quoting from the article:
"In most of these reactive plasma cell proliferations, the monoclonal immunoglobulin is IgG, whereas IgG, IgM or IgA can comprise the monoclonal protein in the neoplastic conditions. ... In neoplastic conditions such as lymphoma and multiple myeloma, excessive amounts of a single immunoglobulin are produced."
The 'adaptive' immune system, which allows vertebrates to fight viruses and other invaders to our systems, includes the immunoglobulins. These make our antibodies. In this article from Cornell University, it is mentioned that a dogs, cats, horses, cattle and llamas can be tested for immunoglobulins. I think that in theory, all vertebrates could be tested for those bio molecules!
Quoting from the article:
"In most of these reactive plasma cell proliferations, the monoclonal immunoglobulin is IgG, whereas IgG, IgM or IgA can comprise the monoclonal protein in the neoplastic conditions. ... In neoplastic conditions such as lymphoma and multiple myeloma, excessive amounts of a single immunoglobulin are produced."
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Multiple myeloma in dogs, cats and horses
Hi Nancy,
I came across the adaptive immune system today in the Wikipedia article about humoral immunity; very interesting!
I guess where I am coming from is that there is so much effort put into treating the ‘symptoms’ of multiple myeloma (drug trials) without fully understanding the root cause. Only when we understand the root cause will we be able to focus on developing a cure?
IgG is very interesting, the only antibody that can progress from the placenta to protect the fetus.
I guess I was wanting to understand why, if my body is producing masses of IgG protein as an antibody, what antigen is it trying to fight off? Could it be one from the past, e.g. an autoimmune episode such as Sjogren’s, IBD, or other episode e.g. pneumonia? And does the stem cell transplant just reset the immune system for a while?
Reading about the thalmus, T-cells, etc on Wikipedia blew the mind.
I am getting off topic, so perhaps something for another thread?
I came across the adaptive immune system today in the Wikipedia article about humoral immunity; very interesting!
I guess where I am coming from is that there is so much effort put into treating the ‘symptoms’ of multiple myeloma (drug trials) without fully understanding the root cause. Only when we understand the root cause will we be able to focus on developing a cure?
IgG is very interesting, the only antibody that can progress from the placenta to protect the fetus.
I guess I was wanting to understand why, if my body is producing masses of IgG protein as an antibody, what antigen is it trying to fight off? Could it be one from the past, e.g. an autoimmune episode such as Sjogren’s, IBD, or other episode e.g. pneumonia? And does the stem cell transplant just reset the immune system for a while?
Reading about the thalmus, T-cells, etc on Wikipedia blew the mind.
I am getting off topic, so perhaps something for another thread?
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wenlock00 - Name: Wenlock00
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March 2017
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Multiple myeloma in dogs, cats and horses
Hi Wenlock,
I think I may have made an error in my previous post about the immunoglobulins being for all vertebrates. At least they are found in placental mammals!
The whole area of immunology is just fascinating. Now, with the monoclonal antibody treatments, a 'cluster of differentiation' i.e. a CD, is targeted by the treatment. For example, daratumumab is targeted right to a protein (antigen) on the surface of the mutant plasma cell (which is being produced in excessive quantities), which displays the CD38 protein.
I don't know whether scientists have determined if there was an original purpose to the mutant plasma cells though, for example, to target a certain virus.
I think I may have made an error in my previous post about the immunoglobulins being for all vertebrates. At least they are found in placental mammals!
The whole area of immunology is just fascinating. Now, with the monoclonal antibody treatments, a 'cluster of differentiation' i.e. a CD, is targeted by the treatment. For example, daratumumab is targeted right to a protein (antigen) on the surface of the mutant plasma cell (which is being produced in excessive quantities), which displays the CD38 protein.
I don't know whether scientists have determined if there was an original purpose to the mutant plasma cells though, for example, to target a certain virus.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Multiple myeloma in dogs, cats and horses
Hi Nancy,
As lay people we are doing our best, and I guess we just want to understand in more detail the rationale of our multiple myeloma diagnosis, and I am sure that is a struggle for everyone. Especially as the experts we depend on do not have all the answers either.
In my professional career, I used to diagnose faults in very large super computers, I am finding the immune system and myeloma a more complicated challenge. It is very fascinating and humbling though to try and understand it to some basic level (which I often get wrong; I have just started to try to understand it).
I guess one thing I want to understand is why the rogue stem cells are created in the first place.
I hate taking pills, I did not enjoy the induction therapy or the stem cell transplant, and I have a very analytic mind, so I am forced to try and understand it, at least more than I do now.
As lay people we are doing our best, and I guess we just want to understand in more detail the rationale of our multiple myeloma diagnosis, and I am sure that is a struggle for everyone. Especially as the experts we depend on do not have all the answers either.
In my professional career, I used to diagnose faults in very large super computers, I am finding the immune system and myeloma a more complicated challenge. It is very fascinating and humbling though to try and understand it to some basic level (which I often get wrong; I have just started to try to understand it).
I guess one thing I want to understand is why the rogue stem cells are created in the first place.
I hate taking pills, I did not enjoy the induction therapy or the stem cell transplant, and I have a very analytic mind, so I am forced to try and understand it, at least more than I do now.
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wenlock00 - Name: Wenlock00
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March 2017
- Age at diagnosis: 58
Re: Multiple myeloma in dogs, cats and horses
Most horses live on farms, so there would be little to compare to. However, does anyone know of a study that compares myeloma incidence between cats / dogs who have lived on a farm most of their life versus cats / dogs who have lived in a urban / suburban house most of their lives?
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Little Monkey - Name: Little Monkey
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Father-stage 1 multiple myeloma
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March/April of 2015
Re: Multiple myeloma in dogs, cats and horses
Hi Little Monkey,
Bsed on what I have read, a lot of the same types of drugs are used to treat myeloma in cats and dogs as are used in humans, such as melphalan and prednisone. As for the causes of myeloma, some carcinogens are sometimes mentioned, but I do not know just how scientific these statements are.
Bsed on what I have read, a lot of the same types of drugs are used to treat myeloma in cats and dogs as are used in humans, such as melphalan and prednisone. As for the causes of myeloma, some carcinogens are sometimes mentioned, but I do not know just how scientific these statements are.
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Nancy Shamanna - Name: Nancy Shamanna
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Self and others too
- When were you/they diagnosed?: July 2009
Re: Multiple myeloma in dogs, cats and horses
The causes of multiple myeloma remain a mystery. However, chemical and biological agents are suspected. The problem is that thousands of people can be exposed to the same agents but only some will develop a form of cancer like multiple myeloma. Thus it becomes a statistical analysis.
Some chemical agents are linked simply because there is a higher ratio of those developing a form of cancer. For example, if the normal population develops cancer without the exposure at say 1% but it increases to 5% through exposure, then there is said to be link since the exposed group is 5 times more likely to develop cancer than the unexposed group.
The problem is that still 95% do not develop cancer so what causes some to develop and others not. The answer is deep in the genetics of the individual. Something triggers a runaway genetic response in those individuals that develop cancer that is not triggered in most of the population. Genomes are where the answer lies but we are just scratching the surface of our understanding.
Some chemical agents are linked simply because there is a higher ratio of those developing a form of cancer. For example, if the normal population develops cancer without the exposure at say 1% but it increases to 5% through exposure, then there is said to be link since the exposed group is 5 times more likely to develop cancer than the unexposed group.
The problem is that still 95% do not develop cancer so what causes some to develop and others not. The answer is deep in the genetics of the individual. Something triggers a runaway genetic response in those individuals that develop cancer that is not triggered in most of the population. Genomes are where the answer lies but we are just scratching the surface of our understanding.
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Ron Harvot - Name: Ron Harvot
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Feb 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 56
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