Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood tumor derived from post-germinal center B cells which have differentiated into antibody secreting plasma cells.  It represents about 10% of all blood malignancies and it causes severe morbidity due to myeloma-associated bone disease, a sometimes devastating destruction of the bone tissue that clinically can manifest as pathologic fractures and bone pain.  Myeloma patients are also prone to renal failure, anemia and hypercalcemic crisis as well as they are much more susceptible to infections because of immune depression and hypogammaglobulinemia. The underlying causes of this blood tumor are only partially known.