Discovering the meaning of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance: current knowledge, future challenges.
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a non malignant plasma cell disorder with a relatively low risk of progression to Multiple Myeloma (MM) and to related Plasma cells disordes (lymphoplasmacellular neoplasms, Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia or light chain amyloidosis). It is a quite common finding, especially in the population above the age of 50 and it can also present in association with many non malignant conditions. Differential diagnosis of symptomatic and asymptomatic forms is the determinant for starting therapy. Over the last few years many advances in the understanding of the biology of MGUS, together with large epidemiological studies, allowed to define risk models to estimate the risk of progression to MM according to MGUS isotype and, more recently, to peculiar flow cytometry findings. The goal of many recent studies aims at evaluating individual patients and their overall risk of progression, the detection of early signs of progression and the development of timely treatment strategies.
Division of Hematology, University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino , Torino, Italy.
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Palladino
Division of Hematology, University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino , Torino, Italy.
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Bruno
Division of Hematology, University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliera Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino , Torino, Italy.
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Boccadoro
MGUS; Monoclonal gammopathy of undetrmined significance; non malignant haematological disorders; pre-malignant haematological neoplasms