The plasma cell dyscrasias include multiple myeloma (MM), monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), plasmacytoma, Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM), and amyloidosis (AL). These are generally diseases of the elderly, with a median age of onset of over 70 years. MGUSs are many times more common than myeloma, estimated to occur in about 3% of individuals over 70 years of age.

MM is a plasma cell malignancy that characteristically involves extensive infiltration of bone marrow (BM), with the formation of plasmacytomas, as clusters of malignant plasma cells inside or outside of the BM milieu. Consequences of this disease are numerous and involve . . . [Full Text of this Article]


Plasma cell development
 

Etiology and pathogenesis
 

Diagnostic evaluation
 

Staging/prognostic factors
 

Molecular pathogenesis of multiple myeloma
 
Identification of novel therapeutic targets based upon genetic abnormalities
Role of the bone marrow microenvironment in multiple myeloma pathogenesis
Role of adhesion molecules
Role of cytokines in multiple myeloma
Interleukin-6
Insulin-like growth factor 1
VEGF
Tumor necrosis factor {alpha} and CD40 ligand
Stromal cell-derived factor 1{alpha}
Wingless-type mouse mammary tumor virus integration-site family, member 3a
Fibroblast growth factor
TGF-ß
Other cytokines
Role of angiogenesis in multiple myeloma
Death (apoptotic) signaling in multiple myeloma

Treatment
 
Initial therapy
Intensification therapy
Maintenance therapy postintensification
Treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma
Supportive care

Other plasma cell disorders
 
Plasmacytoma
Amyloidosis
POEMS syndrome
Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (Waldenström macroglobulinemia)