Articles tagged with: Monoclonal Gammopathy Of Undetermined Significance
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Results of a recent study conducted in California show that patients with the myeloma precursor disease monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) do not receive adequate evaluation, follow-up, or treatment for their condition.
Based on their findings, the study authors recommended that these patients receive better care consistent with the guidelines for the management of MGUS produced by the first international consensus MGUS panel in 2009.
“[Because of inadequate evaluation], we are missing patients at risk for bone-related problems, which are more likely to occur in MGUS patients,” said Dr. James Berenson …
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Results of a large analysis conducted in Sweden show that multiple myeloma patients are more likely than the general population to develop certain cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and non-melanoma skin cancer.
Furthermore, the researchers found that patients with the myeloma precursor disease monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) also have a greater risk of developing these cancers than the general population.
Like myeloma patients, MGUS patients have abnormal proteins in the blood as a result of defective plasma cells in the bone marrow. However, unlike myeloma patients, MGUS patients …
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NCI Initiates Study Of Novel Imaging Techniques To Identify Precursor Stages Of Myeloma – The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is recruiting patients for a study investigating the use of sensitive imaging technologies to identify progression of myeloma precursor diseases. There are currently no diagnostic tests available to determine whether an individual with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or smoldering multiple myeloma will develop multiple myeloma. New and improved imaging techniques may help physicians better detect the progression of these precursor diseases. This trial is recruiting participants with MGUS, smoldering myeloma, or myeloma. For more information, see the clinical trial description. To participate in the trial, please contact the research nurse, Mary Ann Yancey, at (301) 435-9227 or .
Phase 2 Trials Of IPH 2101 Are Recruiting Myeloma And Smoldering Myeloma Patients – Several Phase 2 clinical trials are now recruiting multiple myeloma and smoldering multiple myeloma patients to receive the experimental agent IPH 2101 (anti-KIR). IPH 2101 is an antibody drug being developed by Innate Pharma. It helps activate cells of the immune system to destroy cancer cells. IPH 2101 is being studied in patients with smoldering myeloma to see if it delays and/or prevents progression to multiple myeloma (trial description). It is also being studied in multiple myeloma patients in stable partial response after a first line therapy (trial description) and in combination with Revlimid (lenalidomide) in myeloma patients experiencing their first relapse (trial description). To participate in the smoldering myeloma trial at the National Institutes of Health, please contact the research nurse, Mary Ann Yancey, at (301) 435-9227 or .
Phase 3 Double Transplant Trial Is Currently Recruiting Myeloma Patients – Myeloma patients are now being recruited by the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey to participate in a Phase 3 trial of tandem stem cell transplants with melphalan (Alkeran) followed by melphalan and Velcade (bortezomib). The purpose of this trial is to determine if the addition of Velcade to the second transplant will increase remission times. For more information, please see the clinical trial description.
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Until 2009, it was generally accepted that monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), smoldering multiple myeloma, and multiple myeloma were three distinctly separate diseases.
If MGUS was accidentally discovered during a patient’s routine medical testing, the patient was often advised to ignore the abnormal test results for the foreseeable future. Most clinical settings encouraged only infrequent routine monitoring, since both MGUS and smoldering myeloma conditions were considered distinct diseases with a small probability of the patient developing multiple myeloma. Often the patient’s personal primary care physician provided any follow-up periodic monitoring.
2009 …
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Patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance have an increased risk of developing blood clots, according to a recent study published in the European Journal of Haematology. Blood clots were also associated with poor survival in these patients.
“Our findings underline the risk of VTE [blood cots] in the monoclonal gammopathies in general and might in this way serve to increase the awareness of this complication in myeloma patients,” stated Dr. Henrik Gregersen, of the Aalborg Hospital in Denmark and lead author of this study.
While some of the increased risk may …
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The International Myeloma Working Group, a group of top myeloma doctors, recently published a report identifying risk factors for disease progression in patients with the multiple myeloma precursor diseases, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and smoldering myeloma. In addition, the myeloma experts established guidelines for the monitoring and management of these two conditions. This article, Part 1 in a series, covers the results for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. Part 2 will cover the results for smoldering myeloma.
The International Myeloma Working Group identified the following risk factors for patients with …
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People with multiple myeloma and its precursor conditions may be at risk for bone fractures and osteoporosis, found a review published in the journal Joint Bone Spine in March.
For those with multiple myeloma, this increased risk of osteoporosis means higher risk of fractures even in places in the bone that do not have cancerous cells. For those with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), a blood disorder characterized by a high level of monoclonal protein, or those with smoldering multiple myeloma, their disease-caused osteoporosis may be an early sign of progression to …
