Epidemiology and Biology of Multiple Myeloma

This volume comprises the results of a workshop sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, which explored the striking increase in cases of multiple myeloma over the past 30 years. Contributors discussed risk factors, the origins of the malignancy and directions for future research.

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This volume is the result of a workshop, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute in March 1990, which explored the epidemiology of multiple myeloma. The papers included in this volume address differences in immunologic factors and in risk factors for multiple myeloma between blacks and whites, describe the monoclonal gammopathies and their progression to myeloma, and speculate on hypotheses regarding the etiology and pathogenesis of this challenging malignancy. Questions that are addressed include whether neoplastic change occurs at the level of the plasma cell or earlier in the B-cell lineage, the role of inappropriate gene expression, the importance of IL-6 production, and new findings regarding the cytogenetics of this malignancy. Key directions for new research on multiple myeloma and related malignancies are also suggested.