Multiple myeloma is a rare cancer of the bone marrow. It results from the abnormal growth of plasma cells in the bone marrow. Plasma cells normally produce antibodies. As these abnormal or malignant plasma cells multiply, they produce large quantities of abnormal antibodies. These abnormal antibodies collect in the blood and urine. As the plasma cell tumor grows, it also destroys the bone around it. These events lead to bone pain, kidney damage, and a weak immune system.

Bone Marrow Sites in Adults

Causes

Cancer occurs when cells in the body divide without control or order. Normally, cells divide in a regulated manner. If cells keep dividing uncontrollably when new cells are not needed, a mass of tissue forms, called a growth or tumor. The term cancer refers to malignant growths. These growths can invade nearby tissues. Cancer that has invaded nearby tissues can then spread to other parts of the body.

It is not clear exactly what causes these problems in the cells, but it is probably a combination of genetics and environment.

Risk Factors

Multiple myeloma is more common in people 50 years and older. It is also more common in those of Afro-Caribbean descent.

Symptoms

Symptoms of early stage multiple myeloma include:

Persistent bone pain, often severe. It is most common in the back but also in the limbs or ribs.
Fatigue

When the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

Increasing fatigue
Weakness
Broken bones
Repeat infections
Nausea and vomiting
Constipation
Difficulty urinating
Abnormal bleeding
Headache
Visual problems
Confusion

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done.

Imaging tests evaluate your bones and other structures. These may include:

Your doctor may order tests of your body fluids and tissues. This can be done with:

Blood tests
Urine tests
Bone marrow aspiration or biopsy

Treatment

After cancer is found, staging tests are done to find out if the cancer has spread. Treatment is sometimes able to slow the progress of multiple myeloma. Complete remission is rare. Treatment is also important to control symptoms. Treatment depends on your symptoms and the stage of your cancer. Options include:

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be given in many forms including: pill, injection, and via a catheter. The drugs enter the bloodstream and travel through the body. The drugs kill mostly cancer cells. Some healthy cells may be killed in the process.

Chemotherapy drugs are used in combination and may also be given with other types of medications, like immunomodulating agents.

Immunomodulating Agents

Immunomodulating agents work by changing the way the myeloma cells live. This makes it difficult for them to survive, reproduce, and produce proteins that cause symptoms. These medications are often paired with a corticosteroid.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids may be combined with other medications or given alone. Corticosteroids can also help to treat the symptoms of chemotherapy, like nausea and vomiting.

Proteasome Inhibitor

A proteasome inhibitor is also available to treat multiple myeloma. Proteasomes are a type of protein complex that breaks down proteins. It inhibits proteasomes, which causes more proteins to be in the cells. Because of these extra proteins, the cells eventually do not grow anymore.

Bisphosphonates

Bisphosphonates are given to slow the process of bone loss.

Biologic Therapies

Biologic therapies repair, encourage, or raise the body’s response to cancer by affecting the immune system. Interferon is one biologic agent used to treat multiple myeloma. Interferon may be used with chemotherapy to help prolong remission, slowing the speed at which myeloma cells grow.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is the use of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. External beam radiation therapy may be given to relieve bone pain. It is not considered a cure.

Surgery

Surgery is done to remove a tumor that causes pain or other disabling symptoms when radiation therapy is not considered a good option. Surgery is not a cure.

Peripheral Stem Cell Transplant

Peripheral stem cell transplant involves giving immature, healthy blood cells to replace bone marrow cells that are damaged by cancer.

Plasmapheresis

Plasmapheresis is done to exchange plasma in the blood. Plasma is the liquid part of the blood that does not contain cells. After the plasma is removed, fresh plasma or a plasma substitute is added back to the blood. This treatment is done to remove the myeloma proteins from the blood.

Prevention

There are no current guidelines to prevent multiple myeloma because the cause is unknown.

RESOURCES:

American Cancer Society
https://www.cancer.org

Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
https://www.themmrf.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Cancer Society
https://www.cancer.ca

Myeloma Canada
http://www.myelomacanada.ca

References:

Multiple myeloma. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiple-myeloma.html. Accessed January 28, 2021.

Multiple myeloma. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed January 28, 2021.

Plasma cell neoplasms (including multiple myeloma) treatment (PDQ)—patient version. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/myeloma/patient/myeloma-treatment-pdq. Accessed January 28, 2021.

Rajkumar, SV, Hayman, SR, Lacy MQ, et al. Combination therapy with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone (Rev/Dex) for newly diagnosed myeloma. Blood. 2005;106(13):4050-4053.

Last reviewed December 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP
Last Updated: 1/28/2021

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