Assessment of Metabolites Among Asymptomatic Precursor and Malignant Monoclonal Gammopathies

PROJECT NARRATIVE Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable cancer of plasma cells that is always preceded by an asymptomatic phase comprised of pre-cancerous plasma cells such as in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), or smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM). Given the incurable nature of MM, this project aims to measure the levels of select metabolites in the bone marrow plasma of patients with a spectrum of plasma cell disorders via mass-spectrometry-based approaches so as to distinguish between pre-cancerous and cancerous plasma cells. Ultimately, the knowledge gained from this study will help lower the risk of morbidity and mortality in the general population who remain at risk of developing MM from entities with pre- cancerous plasma cells such as MGUS and SMM; this study will also lay the basis of developing novel strategies in the future to prevent this progression of pre-cancerous plasma cells to MM.