Multiple Myeloma: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Multiple myeloma (also known as myeloma or plasma cell myeloma) is a progressive hematologic disease. It is a cancer of the plasma cell, an important part of the immune system that produces immunoglobulins (antibodies) to help fight infection and disease. Multiple myeloma is characterized by excessive numbers of abnormal plasma cells in the bone marrow and overproduction of intact monoclonal immunoglobulin or Bence-Jones protein. Hypercalcemia, anemia, renal damage, increased susceptibility to bacterial infection, and impaired production of normal immunoglobulin are common clinical manifestations of multiple myeloma. It is often also characterized by diffuse osteoporosis, usually in the pelvis, spine, ribs, and skull. This new book gathers the latest research from around the globe on multiple myeloma research and related topics such as immune defects in multiple myeloma, surgical options in the treatment of spinal myeloma, the role of PBSC in multiple myeloma and allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Please click on a chapter below to purchase separately Chapter 1 - Measurement of Proliferative and Apoptotic Indices in Myeloma Plasmocytes Authors / Editors: J. Minarik and V. Scudla Chapter 2 - Wnt Signaling Pathways in Multiple Myeloma Authors / Editors: Ya-Wei Qiang and Stuart Rudikoff ***Open Access Chapter. Free Download Available*** Chapter 3 - The Activation of Transcription Factor NF-KappaB in Multiple Myeloma and Its Role in Therapy of This Malignancy Authors / Editors: Ota Fuchs Chapter 4 - Proteasome Inhibition as a Therapeutic Strategy in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Authors / Editors: Ota Fuchs Chapter 5 - Plasma Cell Dyscrasias Authors / Editors: Cherie H. Dunphy Chapter 6 - Bisphosphonates in Multiple Myeloma Patients Authors / Editors: Jasmina Redzepovic, Ronald Gust and Heinz Pertz Chapter 7 - Immune Defects in Multiple Myeloma Authors / Editors: Krzysztof Giannopoulos, Iwona Hus and Anna Dmoszynska Chapter 8 - Surgical Options in the Treatment of Spinal Myeloma Authors / Editors: M. Repko, R. Chaloupka, R. Grosman and M. Krbec Chapter 9 - The Role of PBSC in Multiple Myeloma: From Biology to Treatment Authors / Editors: Alessandro Corso, Patrizia Zappasodi and Marzia Varettoni Chapter 10 - Autologous and Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma Authors / Editors: Evangelos Terpos and John Meletis