Only Your Genes Will Tell
Only Your Genes Will Tell By Cynthia Chmielewski Molecular Groups of Multiple Myeloma Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells found in the bone marrow. We now know that Myeloma is not a single disease. Researchers have identified several molecular subtypes. During the last 15 years, numerous studies have pointed out the heterogeneity of both the phenotype and chromosomal abnormalities of multiple myeloma. 1 Using Gene Expression Profiling of 414 newly diagnosed patients, Zhan et al. have proposed a molecular classification of multiple myeloma into 7 groups. Read on to discover how to determine to which molecular subgroup of multiple myeloma you belong and why it’s important to know that information. One Size Fits All Until recently there weren’t many treatment options available for individuals diagnosed with myeloma. Patients were prescribed the treatment that showed the best efficacy when tested in the general myeloma population. Most trials in the