Diagnosed with SMM, SPB, or MGUS?

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Can MGUS Patient Predict Progression to Multiple Myeloma?

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“Individuals with low-risk/intermediate-risk MGUS can convert to high-risk MGUS and progress to multiple myeloma within five years…”

I think it makes sense that serum immune markers of MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance) patients can change, increasing the patient’s risk of a multiple myeloma (MM) diagnosis. Also, I think it makes sense that low or medium risk MGUS patients can progress to high risk MGUS patients.

Questions for the MGUS patient are:

  1. How much “risk” of “high risk” is it to MGUS patients?
  2. Does increasing risk change a patient’s overall survival (OS)?
  3. What does the MGUS patient do about possible increase in risk?

Sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective one. According to the first study below, an annual blood test will tell the MGUS patient if he/she has progressed from low to high risk. If a person’s risk increases, then he/she can discuss what this increased risk means.

Just as important, is the fact that conventional MM oncology doesn’t recognize evidence-based, non-conventional, non-toxic therapies that research has shown can reduce the MGUS patient’s risk of a MM diagnosis.

Certain nutrition, supplementation and lifestyle therapies can reduce MM risk.

Have you been diagnosed with pre-MM- either MGUS or SMM? Scroll down the page, post a question or comment and I will reply to you ASAP.

Thank you,

David Emerson

  • MM Survivor
  • MM Cancer Coach
  • Director PeopleBeatingCancer

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Annual Test Best for Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance

“The risk of progression of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) to multiple myeloma appears to be inconsistent, prompting a need for annual testing, according to researchers…

“The results from this prospective screening study help us to better understand the previously reported annual risk of 0.5% to 1%, which is reflective of the average risk…”

“Our results show that low-risk can develop into high-risk and progress to multiple myeloma,” said Dr. Landgren, “The implications are: do annual blood test and reassessment based on updated results.”

New Study Helps Researchers Determine Which MGUS Patients Develop Multiple Myeloma

The research team hypothesized that changes in serum immune markers over time predicted progression from MGUS to multiple myeloma.

They designed the first prospective study with serial blood samples to investigate blood-based immune markers associated with progression from MGUS to multiple myeloma. Currently, based on existing retrospective studies, risk for multiple myeloma is determined when MGUS is diagnosed. This study shows that risk can evolve, and low-risk disease can become high risk and progress to multiple myeloma.

Researchers found that clinical risk categories can change over time prior to multiple myeloma diagnosis. Individuals with low-risk/intermediate-risk MGUS can convert to high-risk MGUS and progress to multiple myeloma within five years; the same result was found in light-chain (characterized by absent M-protein) MGUS. These results support the need for annual blood testing and risk assessment for all individuals with MGUS or light-chain MGUS…

Our data indicates that individuals with low-risk or intermediate-risk MGUS can convert to high-risk MGUS and progress to multiple myeloma within a five-year window…

The Risk of MGUS Progression to Multiple Myeloma

“The amount of circulating monoclonal protein, the presence of clinical symptoms, and the portion of plasma cells in the bone marrow biopsy help differentiate the various conditions within the spectrum of monoclonal gammopathy.

MGUS is defined as the presence of an M-spike with a concentration <3g/dL, <10% plasma cells on bone marrow biopsy, and the absence of the so-called “CRAB” symptoms of multiple myeloma (hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, anemia and bone lesions)…

What is this study about?

In this cohort study, 1384 patients from Minnesota in whom MGUS was diagnosed at the Mayo Clinic from 1960 through 1994 were followed until December 31, 2015 (median follow-up, 34 years; range 0–43 years)…

The primary outcome was the progression from MGUS to multiple myeloma or to another plasma or lymphoid malignancy…

What are the results?

During 14,130 person-years of follow-up, 94% of patients died. MGUS progressed in 11% (147 patients)…

The risk of progression from MGUS to multiple myeloma or to another plasma or lymphoid malignancy (not accounting for death due to competing causes) was 10% at 10 years, 18% at 20 years, 28% at 30 years, 37% at 35 years, and 37% at 40 years...

 

 

 

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