Skip to main content
NIHPA Author Manuscripts logoLink to NIHPA Author Manuscripts
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Apr 18.
Published in final edited form as: Leukemia. 2012 Oct 16;27(4):941–946. doi: 10.1038/leu.2012.296

Serum free light chain ratio as a biomarker for high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma

JT Larsen 1, SK Kumar 2, A Dispenzieri 2, RA Kyle 2, JA Katzmann 3, SV Rajkumar 2
PMCID: PMC3629951  NIHMSID: NIHMS456133  PMID: 23183428

Abstract

A markedly elevated serum free light chain (FLC) ratio may serve as a biomarker for malignant transformation in high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) and identify patients who are at imminent risk of progression. We retrospectively studied the predictive value of the serum (FLC) assay in 586 patients with SMM diagnosed between 1970 to 2010. A serum involved/uninvolved FLC ratio ≥100 was used to define high-risk SMM, which included 15% (n = 90) of the total cohort. Receiver operating characteristics analysis determined the optimal FLC ratio cut-point to predict progression to symptomatic multiple myeloma (MM) within 2 years of diagnosis, which resulted in a specificity of 97% and sensitivity of 16%. Fifty-six percent of patients developed progressive disease during median follow-up of 52 months, but this increased to 98% in the subgroup of patients with FLC ratio ≥100. The median time to progression in the FLC ratio ≥100 group was 15 months versus 55 months in the FLC <100 group (P<0.0001). The risk of progression to MM within the first 2 years in patients with an FLC ratio ≥100 was 72%; the risk of progression to MM or light chain amyloidosis in 2 years was 79%. We conclude that a high FLC ratio ≥100 is a predictor of imminent progression in SMM, and such patients may be considered candidates for early treatment intervention.

Keywords: smoldering multiple myeloma, free light chain ratio, prognosis, biomarker

INTRODUCTION

Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) is an asymptomatic precursor disease of multiple myeloma (MM) or related plasma cell disorders such as light chain (AL) amyloidosis for which the standard of care has remained observation without therapy until symptoms develop.1 SMM is a clinical diagnosis currently defined by the International Myeloma Working group as the presence of a serum M-protein of ≥3 g/dl and/or ≥10% bone marrow plasma cells (BMPCs) with no evidence of end-organ damage (hypercalcemia, renal insufficiency, anemia or bone lesions (CRAB)).2

Early treatment of SMM previously has been limited because of unacceptably high rates of treatment-related toxicity, and an inability to identify high-risk SMM patients at diagnosis who will consistently progress to symptomatic MM within a short period.3-5 The emergence of novel myeloma therapies that are highly active yet have improved tolerability has generated renewed interest in the potential for treatment of SMM to prevent later development of end-organ damage. Rather than a strategy of watchful waiting for all SMM patients until the development of CRAB features, early treatment of the highest risk patients has the potential to improve quality of life and overall survival.6 The annual risk of progression to symptomatic disease in SMM is 10% per year for the first 5 years,7 making SMM a more attractive target for early therapy compared with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, with the established 1% per year risk of progression.8 However, the identification of SMM patients at diagnosis who will invariably progress to symptomatic MM in a short timeframe remains a challenge.

The development of biomarkers capable of distinguishing high- and low-risk SMM patients may allow for more individualized disease management. Risk stratification schemes for SMM recently have emerged utilizing methods such as immunophenotyping of aberrant plasma cells,9 BMPC percentage,10 serum M-protein, as well as the serum free light chain (FLC) ratio.11 The clinical utility of the serum FLC assay has been demonstrated previously in a range of related conditions such as monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, MM and AL amyloidosis.12-14 It is a sensitive method for detecting excess light chain immunoglobulins, which results in an abnormal κ/λ ratio.15,16 Applying the FLC assay to SMM, Dispenzieri et al.11 determined that the prognostic effect of an abnormal κ/λ FLC ratio of ≤0.125 or ≥8 was independent of other risk factors on multivariate analysis, and was associated with a hazard ratio of 2.3 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.6-3.2) compared with FLC ratios of 0.125-8.

We hypothesize that SMM is a clinical entity comprised of both premalignant, high-risk monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and early asymptomatic MM in transition to malignant disease, which may be differentiated with the use of the serum FLC ratio set to an appropriate level of sensitivity. We examined the diagnostic performance of the serum FLC ratio at the time of SMM diagnosis and its ability to predict risk of imminent progression to symptomatic MM within 2 years of diagnosis, which may be particularly relevant for use in prospective early intervention studies.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Study cohort

Approval for the study was obtained from the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board according to federal regulations, and in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. According to state law we excluded patients who declined research authorization to review their medical records for research purposes. Patients were identified by searching a computerized database and reviewing the medical records of patients meeting the International Myeloma Working Group 2003 definition of SMM2: ≥10% BMPCs and/or serum M-protein ≥3 g/dl, plus absence of hypercalcemia (calcium >11.5 mg/dl), renal insufficiency (creatinine >2 mg/dl), anemia (hemoglobin <10 g/dl) or bone lesions (lytic lesions or diffuse osteopenia) attributable to a plasma cell disorder. We performed a retrospective analysis of 586 newly diagnosed SMM patients seen at Mayo Clinic from 1970 to 2010 with available stored serum samples within 30 days of SMM diagnosis. Patients who had received prior chemotherapy or had an existing diagnosis of AL amyloidosis at the time of SMM diagnosis were excluded.

Serum FLC assay

The serum FLC assay (Freelite; The Binding Site, Birmingham, UK) was performed on a BNII nephelometer (Dade Behring, Deerfield, IL, USA) using stored serum.17,18 The serum FLC assay measures absolute free κ and λ light chain values and by default is reported as the κ/λ ratio (normal range: 0.26-1.65).16 To simplify interpretation of this study, we reported the FLC involved/uninvolved ratio with the monoclonal light chain in the numerator. Kappa was the involved light chain ratio if the κ/λ ratio was >1.65, whereas lambda was the involved light chain if the κ/λ ratio was <0.26. The absolute difference between the involved and uninvolved light chain was determined.

Statistical analysis

Calculations were performed using JMP version 9.0 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed by plotting sensitivity (Y axis) versus 1-specificity (X axis) and the area under the curve was calculated. The ROC curve was used to determine the ability of the serum involved/uninvolved FLC ratio to discriminate patients who progressed to symptomatic myeloma at 12-month intervals. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated across a range of values in order to choose a cut-point with the highest possible specificity (around 95%) while also maximizing sensitivity. Positive and negative likelihood ratios, as well as positive and negative predictive values were determined.

The χ2 test was used to compare nominal variables. The unpaired t-test was used to compare the median values of continuous variables between the high and low FLC ratio groups. Time to progression (TTP) was the primary end point and was measured from the date of SMM diagnosis until progression to active disease. Seventy-one patients with <24 months follow-up and without disease progression were censored from the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to generate survival curves. Groups were compared with the two-tailed logrank test. All statistical tests were two-sided and P-values of <0.05 were considered to be significant.

RESULTS

Patient characteristics

A total of 586 patients were available for analysis. Patient characteristics at SMM diagnosis are shown in Table 1. Median follow-up for the composite group was 52 months. In all, 109 patients had <24 months follow-up and 71 of these patients (65%) showed no evidence of developing MM during this period. Of the 71 patients who did not progress, only 1 patient had an FLC ratio of ≥100 (ratio 317; κ 0.982 mg/dl, λ 312 mg/dl). The median age at SMM diagnosis was 64 years (range, 27-91 years). Men represented 54% of the patient sample (n = 319). The immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain type was 73% monoclonal IgG, 20% IgA, 1% IgM, 1% IgD and 2% had a biclonal M-protein. Light chain only disease was present in 4% of patients, however, an enrichment in light chain only disease was observed in the high FLC ratio group (12% of patients; P<0.0001). The dominant light chain was κ in 63% and λ in 37%.

Table 1.

Patient characteristics at SMM diagnosis grouped according to FLC ratio ≥ 100 or < 100

Variables All patients FLC ratio < 100 FLC ratio ≥ 100 P (95% CI)
Patients (n) 586 496 (85%) 90 (15%)
Age, years 64 63 64 0.99
Sex, male (%) 319 (54%) 278 (56%) 41 (46%) 0.08
Serum monoclonal protein
 Median M-spike (g/dl) 2.5 2.5 2.7 0.76
 < 3 g/dl 378 (67%) 324 (65%) 54 (60%) 0.22
 ≥ 3 g/dl 186 (33%) 152 (32%) 34 (39%) 0.22
Immunoglobulin heavy chain
 IgG 426 (73%) 367 (74%) 59 (66%) 0.09
 IgA 115 (20%) 98 (20%) 17 (19%) 0.84
 IgM 3 (1%) 3 (0.6%) 0 (0%) 0.46
 IgD 6 (1%) 5 (1%) 1 (1%) 0.59
 Biclonal 13 (2%) 13 (3%) 0 (0%) 0.12
 Light chain only 23 (4%) 10 (2%) 13 (14%) < 0.0001*
Involved light chain
 Kappa 372 (63%) 320 (65%) 52 (58%) 0.15
 Lambda 214 (37%) 176 (35%) 38 (42%) 0.24
Median light chain concentration (mg/dl)
 Kappa 3.02 (0.007–761) 3.1 1.3 < 0.0005*
 Lambda 1.26 (0.04–1715) 1.24 14.3 0.0001*
BMPCs
 Median BMPCs (%) 20 20 30 < 0.0001*
 10–60% 557 (95%) 478 (96%) 79 (88%) 0.002*
 > 60% 29 (5%) 18 (4%) 11 (12%) 0.002*
Median difference in the involved and
uninvolved FLC, mg/dl (range)
6.9 (0.03–1714) 5.2 (0.03–422) 85 (4.8–1714) < 0.0001*

Abbreviations: BMPC, bone marrow plasma cell; CI, confidence interval; FLC, free light chain; SMM, smoldering multiple myeloma.

*

Indicates statistically significant P-values.

The FLC ratio was abnormal (reference range <0.26 or >1.65) in 74% of patients (n = 432). In all, 90 of the 586 SMM patients (15%) had a FLC ratio ≥100 at time of diagnosis. The median value of the involved/uninvolved FLC ratio was 12.9 (range, 1.04-11.186). The median monoclonal protein size was 2.5 g/dl (range, 0-6.9). The median BMPC percentage was 20% (range, 3-95%), and was significantly higher in the FLC ratio >100 group compared with the <100 group (30% versus 20%, P<0.0001).

Outcomes

By ROC analysis, the optimal involved/uninvolved FLC ratio diagnostic cut-point for differentiating SMM patients at followup through years 1-5 was >91. The ROC curve is shown in Figure 1. The sensitivity and specificity at each year is listed in Table 2. For ease of clinical application, the optimal value for the involved/uninvolved FLC ratio was rounded to ≥100. An FLC ratio cut-point of ≥100 corresponded to a sensitivity of 16% (95% CI, 11.3-21.9), specificity of 97% (94.6-98.4%), positive likelihood ratio of 5.1 (2.7-9.7), negative likelihood ratio of 0.87 (0.8-0.9), positive predictive value of 73 (57.4-85.4) and negative predictive value of 68.1 (64.0-72.0). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.55. During the follow-up period, 56% (n = 331) of SMM patients progressed to symptomatic multiple myeloma (Table 3). Ten patients developed AL amyloidosis. Median TTP by Kaplan-Meier analysis was 40 months (95% CI, 33-48) and 35% of all patients progressed within 2 years. Only 48% of the FLC <100 group developed active MM, however, 98% of the FLC ≥100 patients ultimately developed disease progression during the follow-up period (relative risk (RR) 2.04 (95% CI, 1.8-2.2)). The absolute difference between the involved and uninvolved light chain was significantly higher at 85 mg/dl in the FLC ratio ≥100 group compared with 5.2 mg/dl in the FLC <100 group (P<0.0001). The most common progression event was bone disease (43%), followed by anemia (34%), renal insufficiency (18%) and hypercalcemia (5%). No significant differences were observed in the type of progression event between the FLC <100 and ≥100 groups.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

ROC curve demonstrating the sensitivity and specificity of the initial involved/uninvolved FLC ratio for progression to symptomatic multiple myeloma within 24 months of SMM diagnosis. The FLC ratio cut-point of ≥100 has a specificity of 96.7% and sensitivity of 15.8%.

Table 2.

ROC analysis of the FLC involved/uninvolved ratio at interval cut-points and time points

FLC ratio Progression to symptomatic myeloma over time (n, %)
12 Months
(n = 115, 20%)
24 Months
(n = 205, 35%)
36 Months
(n = 253, 43%)
48 Months
(n = 280, 48%)
60 Months
(n = 302, 52%)
FLC > 8
 Specificity 69% 71% 73% 73% 75%
 Sensitivity 50% 44% 44% 42% 42%
FLC > 25
 Specificity 83% 86% 88% 88% 89%
 Sensitivity 37% 34% 34% 31% 31%
FLC > 50
 Specificity 90% 92% 94% 94% 95%
 Sensitivity 25% 23% 23% 21% 21%
FLC > 70
 Specificity 92% 93% 96% 96% 97%
 Sensitivity 20% 18% 18% 17% 17%
FLC > 91*
 Specificity 95% 96% 99% 99% 99%
 Sensitivity 19% 17% 17% 15% 15%

Abbreviations: FLC, free light chain; ROC, receiver operating characteristic.

*

The optimal cut-point to obtain a specificity near 95% at 24 months while still maximizing sensitivity was determined to be > 91.

Table 3.

Patient outcomes according to FLC ratio ≥100 or < 100

Variables All patients FLC < 100 FLC ≥ 100 RR (95% CI)
Progression to MM, % 56% 48% 98% 2.04 (1.8–2.2)
 Within 1 year 19% 15% 43% 1.5 (1.3–1.8)
 Within 2 years 35% 28% 72% 2.6 (1.8–3.6)
 Within 3 years 47% 40% 87% 4.4 (2.7–7.4)
Progression event, n (%)
 Bone disease 43% 41% 44% 1.0 (0.84–1.3)
 Anemia (Hgb < 10.0 g/dl) 34% 37% 23% 0.81 (0.70–0.94)
 Renal insufficiency (Cr ≥ 2.0 g/dl) 18% 16% 27% 1.2 (1.0–1.3)
 Hypercalcemia (> 11.5 mg/dl) 5% 6% 6% 1.0 (0.95–1.1)
Median TTP to active MM (months) 40 (33–48) 55 (46–65) 15 (9–17) P < 0.0001

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; Cr, serum creatinine; FLC, free light chain; Hgb, hemoglobin; MM, symptomatic myeloma; RR, risk ratio;TTP, time to progression.

Progression data are shown in Table 3. TTP from the date of the initial FLC ratio at SMM diagnosis to active MM was compared between patients in the high (≥100) and low (<100) FLC ratio groups. Median TTP to symptomatic MM in the FLC ratio ≥100 group was 15 months (95% CI, 9-17) versus 55 months (95% CI, 46-65) in the FLC ratio <100 group (P <0.0001; Figure 2. In the FLC ratio ≥100 group, progression to MM was 43% at 1 year (RR 1.5, 1.3-1.8), 72% at 2 years (RR 2.6, 1.8-3.6) and 87% at 3 years (RR 4.4, 2.7-7.4). In comparison, progression to MM was 16% at 1 year (RR 1.5, 1.3-1.8), 28% at 2 years (RR 2.6, 1.8-3.6) and 40% at 3 years in the FLC <100 patients. In patients with FLC ratio ≥100 and involved FLC level ≥100 mg/dl, the risk of progression to symptomatic MM was 76% at 2 years.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

TTP to symptomatic multiple myeloma from initial involved/uninvolved FLC ratio of ≥100 versus a ratio of <100. Median TTP was 15 months in the FLC ratio ≥100 group compared with 55 months in the FLC ratio <100 group (P<0.0001). At 24 months, 72% of patients with FLC ratio ≥100 had progressed to MM versus 28% of patients with FLC ratio <100.

If progression to AL amyloidosis was included as an event in addition to symptomatic MM, the risk of progression in patients with an FLC ratio ≥100 was 79% at 2 years and 90% at 3 years. Corresponding rates for patients with both FLC ratio ≥100 and involved FLC level ≥100 mg/dl was 82% and 93%, respectively.

Tables 4 and 5 provide comparison in a univariate model of BMPC percentage, serum M-spike, and serum FLC ratio ≥100. All three were significant prognostic factors on univariate analysis, and all remained significant independent predictors on multivariate analysis, validating each factor’s ability to discriminate SMM patients at higher risk for progression. The 3 factors remained independently significant when BMPC percentage and serum M-spike were studied as categorical variables with cutpoints of 60% and 3gm/dl, respectively.

Table 4.

Univariate analysis of bone marrow plasma cell percentage, serum monoclonal protein and FLC ratio > 100 on time to progression

Prognostic variable Hazard ratio 95% CI P-value
Bone marrow plasma cell, % 9.39 5.4–16.1 < 0.0001
Serum M-spike 3.96 1.9–8.1 0.0002
FLC ratio ≥ 100 3.53 2.8–4.4 < 0.0001

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; FLC, free light chain. Bone marrow plasma cell % and serum M-spike were studied as continuous variables and the hazard ratios listed are per change in regressor over entire range. The corresponding hazard ratios per unit change in regressor are 1.03 and 1.21 respectively.

Table 5.

Multivariate analysis of bone marrow plasma cell percentage, serum monoclonal protein level and FLC ratio ≥ 100 on time to progression

Prognostic variable Hazard ratio 95% CI P-value
Bone marrow plasma cell, % 3.24 1.52–4.6 0.0004
Serum M-spike 3.16 1.01–2.2 0.0013
FLC ratio ≥ 100 3.23 2.4–4.2 < 0.0001

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; FLC, free light chain. Bone marrow plasma cell % and serum M-spike were studied as continuous variables and the hazard ratios listed are per change in regressor over entire range. The corresponding hazard ratios per unit change in regressor are 1.02 and 1.08 respectively.

DISCUSSION

In this study, we evaluated the ability of the serum FLC ratio to reliably identify high-risk SMM that will result in early progression to active MM necessitating treatment. Our data strongly support the conclusion that a serum involved/uninvolved FLC ratio ≥100 (or if κ/λ ratio is used, ≥100 or ≤0.01) is a highly specific independent biomarker with the ability to identify SMM patients at significantly increased risk of developing end-organ damage because of MM within 2 years. A serum involved/uninvolved FLC ratio of ≥100 was present in 15% of the total cohort (n = 90). By ROC analysis, a cut-point of ≥100 was 97% specific for disease progression within 2 years. On survival analysis, the 2-year rate of progression from SMM to MM was slightly lower, but still substantial at 72% versus 28% in the FLC ≥100 and <100 groups, respectively. The incidence of bone disease, anemia, renal insufficiency or hypercalcemia did not significantly differ between the FLC ratio groups. The FLC ratio ≥100 group had an increased number of light chain only patients and involvement of BMPC compared with the lower FLC ratio group, both of which are associated with increased disease aggressiveness in MM.19 The predictive value increases when AL amyloidosis is included as an endpoint in addition to MM, and when an involved FLC level of ≥100 mg/dl is added as a requirement to the high-risk definition.

Our findings provide further support to an accumulating body of evidence that elevated FLC levels are a risk factor for progression not only in MM, but in myeloma precursor disease such as SMM as well. The Mayo Clinic SMM risk stratification model proposed by Dispenzieri et al.11 uses the criteria of serum FLC ratio <0.125 or >8, BMPCs ≥10% and serum M-protein ≥3 g/dl, and 1 point is assigned for each risk factor. TTP decreased with each additional risk factor, from 10 years with 1 risk factor, 5.1 years with 2 risk factors, to 1.9 years with 3 risk factors. This simple risk model provides useful prognostic information, however, a single reliable marker of disease progression has remained elusive.20 In this study, we used more stringent criteria for an elevated FLC ratio in order to maximize the test specificity and positive predictive value to discriminate the highest risk SMM patients from the remainder of the group. The development of individualized treatment strategies will necessitate better understanding of underlying biological behavior, and an elevated FLC ratio ≥100 is shown here to be a high-quality surrogate marker for malignant transformation.

To date, the International Myeloma Working Group 2010 recommendations advise against treatment of SMM outside the context of a clinical trial.1 The recommended clinical monitoring for these patients has been serial laboratory follow-up every 3 months in the first year, then every 4-6 months thereafter, with the initiation of treatment on symptomatic progression.7 Significant interest in developing an effective treatment regimen for SMM has led to multiple prospective treatment trials, however, improvement in overall survival has been difficult to establish. Initial studies using alkylator-based therapy concluded early treatment should be deferred in asymptomatic patients because of the lack of improvement in overall survival, increased treatment-related toxicities and concern for earlier development of resistant subclones.21 Single-arm trials with preemptive thalidomide3 and thalidomide plus pamidronate4 both achieved at least a minor response in 66% and 63% of patients, respectively, but were unable to establish a clear advantage to early therapy. Numerous other trials investigating the role of bisphosphonate monotherapy,5 anakinra (interleukin-1 receptor antagonist),22 and curcumin23 have not demonstrated a clear reduction in the risk of progression.

The increased recognition of the biological overlap between monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, SMM and the heterogeneity within groups24 has led to the design of trials focused on high-risk SMM. In an ongoing phase III randomized controlled trial, Mateos et al.25 are studying lenalidomide-dexamethasone combination treatment as induction treatment in high-risk SMM. High risk was defined by both BMPC >10% and M-spike >3 g/dl, or if only one of these criteria were present, immunoparesis and aberrant plasma cells in the bone marrow by immunophenotyping. The interim results show an overall response rate of 81% by intention to treat analysis. Median TTP was 23 months in the delayed treatment arm but had not been reached in the lenalidomide-dexamethasone group. The estimated 3-year overall survival in the treatment arm was 98% versus 82% for the delayed treatment group (P = 0.05). Demonstrating the clinical benefit of early treatment strategies in SMM has been difficult previously, however, with improved identification of high-risk patients and development of less toxic therapies, renewed interest in this area is developing.

As the development of biomarkers and genetic profiling advances, further refinements in the clinicopathologic categorization of SMM will likely become necessary. For example, an upper limit of BMPC involvement of <60% was recently proposed for SMM.10 In a retrospective review of 655 patients with newly diagnosed SMM with available bone marrow samples for review, 21 patients (3.2%) had BMPC involvement ≥60%. Ninety-five percent of these patients progressed to active myeloma within 2 years, with a mean TTP of 7 months (95% CI, 1.0-12.9). These patients are now considered as having MM, even in the absence of end-organ damage. The primary limitation of our study is the retrospective nature of its design. In addition, it was not statistically powered for further subgroup analysis by cytogenetics or other risk factors. An inherent advantage and disadvantage was the long period of patient eligibility spanning from 1970 to 2010, which allowed a larger study population but may have also introduced an increased number of confounders because of changes in imaging, physician practice styles and the less rigorous clinical documentation in previous decades. Despite these limitations, our findings show that patients with markedly high FLC ratio (≥100) are at high risk of progression to MM or related disorder within 2 years of diagnosis and hence may be considered candidates for intervention, especially as the mode of progression in this subset is likely to be renal failure in a substantial proportion of patients.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was supported in part by the Jabbs Foundation (Birmingham, UK); National Cancer Institute grants CA168762, CA 107476, CA 62242, CA 100707, CA 83724, and the Henry J Predolin Foundation, USA.

Footnotes

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

JTL, SKK and SVR designed the research, analyzed the data, wrote and edited the manuscript. RAK, JAK and AD participated in data interpretation, reviewed the manuscript and provided critical comments. All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript.

REFERENCES

  • 1.Kyle RA, Durie BG, Rajkumar SV, Landgren O, Blade J, Merlini G, et al. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smoldering (asymptomatic) multiple myeloma: IMWG consensus perspectives risk factors for progression and guidelines for monitoring and management. Leukemia. 2010;24:1121–1127. doi: 10.1038/leu.2010.60. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Group TIMW Criteria for the classification of monoclonal gammopathies, multiple myeloma and related disorders: a report of the International Myeloma Working Group. Br J Haematol. 2003;121:749–757. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Rajkumar SV, Gertz MA, Lacy MQ, Dispenzieri A, Fonseca R, Geyer SM, et al. Thalidomide as initial therapy for early-stage myeloma. Leukemia. 2003;17:775–779. doi: 10.1038/sj.leu.2402866. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Barlogie B, van Rhee F, Shaughnessy JD, Jr., Epstein J, Yaccoby S, Pineda-Roman M, et al. Seven-year median time to progression with thalidomide for smoldering myeloma: partial response identifies subset requiring earlier salvage therapy for symptomatic disease. Blood. 2008;112:3122–3125. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-06-164228. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Musto P, Petrucci MT, Bringhen S, Guglielmelli T, Caravita T, Bongarzoni V, et al. A multicenter, randomized clinical trial comparing zoledronic acid versus observation in patients with asymptomatic myeloma. Cancer. 2008;113:1588–1595. doi: 10.1002/cncr.23783. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Rajkumar SV, Merlini G, San Miguel JF. Redefining myeloma. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2012;9:494–496. doi: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2012.128. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Kyle RA, Remstein ED, Therneau TM, Dispenzieri A, Kurtin PJ, Hodnefield JM, et al. Clinical course and prognosis of smoldering (asymptomatic) multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2007;356:2582–2590. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa070389. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Kyle RA, Therneau TM, Rajkumar SV, Offord JR, Larson DR, Plevak MF, et al. A longterm study of prognosis in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. N Engl J Med. 2002;346:564–569. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa01133202. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Perez-Persona E, Vidriales MB, Mateo G, Garcia-Sanz R, Mateos MV, de Coca AG, et al. New criteria to identify risk of progression in monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance and smoldering multiple myeloma based on multiparameter flow cytometry analysis of bone marrow plasma cells. Blood. 2007;110:2586–2592. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-05-088443. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Rajkumar SV, Larson D, Kyle RA. Diagnosis of smoldering multiple myeloma. N Engl J Med. 2011;365:474–475. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1106428. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Dispenzieri A, Kyle RA, Katzmann JA, Therneau TM, Larson D, Benson J, et al. Immunoglobulin free light chain ratio is an independent risk factor for progression of smoldering (asymptomatic) multiple myeloma. Blood. 2008;111:785–789. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-08-108357. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Rajkumar SV, Kyle RA, Therneau TM, Clark RJ, Bradwell AR, Melton LJ, III, et al. Presence of monoclonal free light chains in the serum predicts risk of progression in monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. Br J Haematol. 2004;127:308–310. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2004.05169.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Snozek CL, Katzmann JA, Kyle RA, Dispenzieri A, Larson DR, Therneau TM, et al. Prognostic value of the serum free light chain ratio in newly diagnosed myeloma: proposed incorporation into the international staging system. Leukemia. 2008;22:1933–1937. doi: 10.1038/leu.2008.171. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Lachmann HJ, Gallimore R, Gillmore JD, Carr-Smith HD, Bradwell AR, Pepys MB, et al. Outcome in systemic AL amyloidosis in relation to changes in concentration of circulating free immunoglobulin light chains following chemotherapy. Br J Haematol. 2003;122:78–84. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.2003.04433.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Katzmann JA, Abraham RS, Dispenzieri A, Lust JA, Kyle RA. Diagnostic performance of quantitative kappa and lambda free light chain assays in clinical practice. Clin Chem. 2005;51:878–881. doi: 10.1373/clinchem.2004.046870. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Katzmann JA, Clark RJ, Abraham RS, Bryant S, Lymp JF, Bradwell AR, et al. Serum reference intervals and diagnostic ranges for free kappa and free lambda immunoglobulin light chains: relative sensitivity for detection of monoclonal light chains. Clin Chem. 2002;48:1437–1444. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Bradwell AR, Carr-Smith HD, Mead GP, Harvey TC, Drayson MT. Serum test for assessment of patients with Bence Jones myeloma. Lancet. 2003;361:489–491. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12457-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Drayson M, Tang LX, Drew R, Mead GP, Carr-Smith H, Bradwell AR. Serum free light-chain measurements for identifying and monitoring patients with nonsecretory multiple myeloma. Blood. 2001;97:2900–2902. doi: 10.1182/blood.v97.9.2900. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.van Rhee F, Bolejack V, Hollmig K, Pineda-Roman M, Anaissie E, Epstein J, et al. High serum-free light chain levels and their rapid reduction in response to therapy define an aggressive multiple myeloma subtype with poor prognosis. Blood. 2007;110:827–832. doi: 10.1182/blood-2007-01-067728. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Waxman AJ, Kuehl M, Balakumaran A, Weiss B, Landgren O. Smoldering (asymptomatic) multiple myeloma: revisiting the clinical dilemma and looking into the future. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2010;10:248–257. doi: 10.3816/CLML.2010.n.053. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Alexanian R, Barlogie B, Dixon D. Prognosis of asymptomatic multiple myeloma. Arch Intern Med. 1988;148:1963–1965. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Lust JA, Lacy MQ, Zeldenrust SR, Dispenzieri A, Gertz MA, Witzig TE, et al. Induction of a chronic disease state in patients with smoldering or indolent multiple myeloma by targeting interleukin 1{beta}-induced interleukin 6 production and the myeloma proliferative component. Mayo Clin Proc. 2009;84:114–122. doi: 10.4065/84.2.114. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Golombick T, Diamond TH, Manoharan A, Ramakrishna R. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, smoldering multiple myeloma, and curcumin: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over 4 g study and an open-label 8 g extension study. Am J Hematol. 2012;87:455–460. doi: 10.1002/ajh.23159. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Landgren O, Kyle RA, Pfeiffer RM, Katzmann JA, Caporaso NE, Hayes RB, et al. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) consistently precedes multiple myeloma: a prospective study. Blood. 2009;113:5412–5417. doi: 10.1182/blood-2008-12-194241. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Mateos M, Lopez-Corral L, Hernandez M, Giraldo P, De la Rubia J, De Arriba F, et al. Smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) at high-risk of progression to symptomatic disease: a phase III, randomized, multicenter trial based on lenalidomide-dexamethasone (Len-Dex) as induction therapy followed by maintenance therapy with Len alone vs no treatment. Blood (ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts) 2011;118:3996. [Google Scholar]

RESOURCES