Good News for Myeloma Patients - Seventeen Cancer Defining Genes Identified by UAMS

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Researchers have identified 17 cancer-defining genes. This discovery will help in the treatment of an aggressive plasma skin cell cancer, myeloma.

John Shaughnessy, of the UAMS Myeloma Research Division, said the benefits of the discovery are two-fold. Not only does this discovery give hope for the development of new medications specifically targeting the identified genes, it will also help physicians determine which patients will not respond to standard treatment methods.

What is Myeloma?

Myeloma is a form of cancer that occurs in plasma cells, the blood making cells found in bone marrow. Bone marrow is the spongy tissue inside large bones. The bone marrow is our source of blood cells.

Since myeloma is a plasma cell cancer, it can occur anywhere plasma cells are found. This means it can be anywhere there is bone marrow, including the ribcage, pelvis and spine. Myeloma that occurs in more than one place is called multiple myeloma.

Who's at Risk for Myeloma?

The highest rate of myeloma occurs in black men age 80 to 84 or older. The average age of diagnosis is 70. Myeloma is rare in people under 40 years of age. 6.8 percent of men develop myeloma (all races and origins). 4.2 percent of women develop myeloma (all races and origins).

Of the 19,000 Americans diagnosed each year, about 15 percent develop an aggressive form of the disease that doesn't respond well to treatment.

Symptoms of Myeloma

Early stage myeloma doesn't always product symptoms. Possible symptoms include:

>Bone Pain, especially in ribs or back
>Fractured Bone
>Thirst
>Feeling Sick
>Large amounts of urine
>Fatigue, shortness of breath or weakness
>Repeated Infection
>Infection that's hard to shake
>Unusual bleeding
>Bruising more than normal
>Swollen ankles

Approximately 7 out of 10 patients with myeloma present to their physician with complaints of bone pain in the lower back or ribs.

Myeloma Survival Rates

Patients with the high risk form of myeloma have an average survival rate of 24 months. There is no cure at this time, but patients with the less aggressive form of the cancer often survive five years or more.

A cancer diagnosis is a terrible emotional blow. The 17 gene model won't make accepting the diagnosis any easier. Current testing methods for myeloma are expensive and involved. Knowing ahead of time which patients won't respond to the usual treatments saves time and money and spares the patient the emotional letdown of undergoing a treatment that produces no result. Scientists can now work on creating medications to target these genes.