Multiple myeloma patients can develop a serious condition called AL Amyloidosis and early screening could help detect this condition, sparing patients end-organ damage. A clinical trial is in place to see if certain genes are involved in the development of AL Amyloidosis in patients with MGUS and Smoldering Myeloma and, if so, early asses and prevent a patient’s risk of progression.

Between 10-20% of myeloma patients could also have AL Amyloidosis. AL Amyloidosis is a complication of plasma cell diseases that causes fragments of proteins coming from the free light chain immunoglobulins to circulate in the blood and end up attaching in body tissues (kidney, liver, heart, GI tract, peripheral nerves, etc.), provoking organ damage. Some of the end-organ damage can be reversed if caught early, however AL Amyloidosis is not easy to diagnose and many patients see multiple doctors before an accurate diagnosis is provided. AL amyloidosis is found more frequently in lambda-type patients. 

About the Study

A 2-year observational study is open at several centers across the United States. The study does not include a treatment, but it intends to prove a hypothesis by analyzing data. The goal is to determine the risk of AL in patients with lambda type monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or smoldering myeloma, and if it is useful to perform early screening to assess the risk of developing AL amyloidosis for patients with precursor conditions. 

Investigators will analyze plasma cells within the bone marrow and perform next-generation sequencing tests (NGS) in multiple study centers. Researchers will determine whether the region gene of the Immunoglobulin (Ig) can be a useful instrument for early assess a patient's risk of progression.

Patients who can join the study include: 

• Patients over 60 years in age
• Patients diagnosed with smoldering myeloma or MGUS 
• Lambda subtype

Study Sites

The study is open at diverse locations within the United States: 

• University of California, Irvine Health Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Orange, California
• University of California, San Francisco
• University of  Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Tufts Medical Center Boston, Massachusetts
• Columbia University Irving Medical Center. New York, New York
• UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Chapel Hill, North Carolina

For more information about the inclusion/exclusion criteria, click here.

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