LOS ANGELES, May 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The
International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) said today that research
published this week in Blood Cancer Journal could lead to a
paradigm shift in myeloma therapy towards screening for the
precursor for the disease and treating early.
The IMF-funded iStopMM study (Iceland Screens, Treats, or
Prevents Multiple Myeloma) is the largest study of its kind, with a
record-setting 80,759 participants.
A cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells, multiple myeloma is
always preceded by a condition called MGUS, in which an
abnormal protein appears in the blood. Doctors do not currently
screen asymptomatic individuals for this blood cancer precursor.
The iStopMM study examines the potential benefits versus the
potential harms of screening for MGUS.
The study's leader, Dr. Sigurdur
Kristinsson of the University of Iceland, compared screening for precancerous
myeloma to screening currently done for precancerous cervical
cancer and breast cancer. "Understanding the epidemiologic,
genetic, and immunologic factors that go along with an increased
risk of myeloma's progression could open the door to early
intervention efforts in high-risk patients and possible preventive
strategies," he said. "This would improve overall survival and
quality of life for patients worldwide."
The iStopMM team formally launched its ambitious effort in
Iceland to enlist at least 70,000
individuals over the age of 40 in November
2016. The country's size, its citizens' service-oriented
mindset, the endorsements of national leaders and a splashy social
media campaign amplified the call for volunteers.
In just over two years, more than 80,000 Icelanders—54.3% of the
eligible population—had consented to have their blood screened,
making it the largest single-country screening study requiring
informed consent, said Dr. Kristinsson. This comes at a time when
participation rates in similar studies are trending downward.
"Typical participation rates in population screening studies are
approximately 20%," said Brian G.M.
Durie, MD, part of the iStopMM team and chairman of the
International Myeloma Foundation, which is supporting the study
through its Black Swan Research Initiative to cure myeloma.
Iceland is no stranger to
large-scale population studies. The country's health authorities
teamed with deCode Genetics, the Reykjavík company collaborating
with the iStopMM study on genetic studies, to screen more than half
of Iceland's 368,000 residents for
COVID-19 infection last year.
Screening the study's extensive samples for MGUS was done by
Binding Site laboratories in the U.K. "From the receipt of the
first sample in late 2016, we have returned over 600,000 data
points," said Dr. Stephen Harding,
chief scientific officer. Following their analysis by Freelite
testing, electrophoresis and total immunoglobulin assays, the
samples are now being re-analyzed by mass spectrometry assay. "We
are excited about the data we will return and the findings of the
study in the future."
"The iStopMM study's extensive biobanking is enabling genetic
and immune testing," said Dr. Durie. "Longer-term follow-up will
not only yield groundbreaking data about the biology of early
disease and the value of early diagnosis, but also shed light on
the optimal interventions to achieve both prevention and a
cure."
About the International Myeloma Foundation
Founded in
1990, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is the first and
largest foundation focusing specifically on multiple myeloma. The
Foundation's reach extends to more than 525,000 members in 140
countries worldwide. The IMF is dedicated to improving the quality
of life of myeloma patients while working toward prevention and a
cure by focusing on four key areas: research, education, support,
and advocacy. The IMF has conducted more than 250 educational
seminars worldwide, maintains a world-renowned InfoLine, and in
2001, established the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), a
collaborative research initiative focused on improving myeloma
treatment options for patients. In 2012, the IMF launched the Black
Swan Research Initiative®, a groundbreaking research
project aimed at curing myeloma. The IMF can be reached at (800)
452-CURE (2873). The global website is www.myeloma.org. Follow
the IMF on Twitter @IMFmyeloma.
Media contacts:
Debra
Gendel
debra@cashmereroad.com
310.710.1903
Sapna Kumar
skumar@myeloma.org
818.487.7455 ext. 258
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SOURCE International Myeloma Foundation
