In this issue of Cancer Control , we are privileged to include four excellent manuscripts addressing recent advances made in the understanding of the biology and treatment of multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a neoplastic disease of B-cell lineage resulting in the overproliferation of malignant plasma cells. The actual origin of the malignant cell is unknown but may originate from pre-B cells. The annual incidence of myeloma in the United States is approximately 4 to 5 per 100,000, with 14,000 estimated new cases diagnosed each year.
American blacks have nearly double the incidence compared to whites.
The clinical spectrum of myeloma includes bone damage, increased infections, and anemia. The median survival of patients with myeloma depends on the stage of disease at diagnosis, but it is approximately 3.5 years for all patients. Despite the use of many different chemotherapeutic regimens, there has been little improvement in outcome since the introduction of melphalan and prednisone over three decades ago. In this issue, Drs Lust, Donovan, Oken, Shustik, and Bensinger review some of the advances being made in the understanding of myeloma biology and how this information may be translated into improved therapy. Understanding the pathogenesis and progression of myeloma will likely provide us with new approaches to treating the disease.