Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy of plasma cells that manifests clinically as hypercalcaemia, renal impairment, anaemia and/or bone disease. MM is preceded by the precursor syndromes monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and smouldering multiple myeloma (SMM).

Primary genetic alterations that underlie MGUS, SMM and MM are chromosomal translocations that involve IGH (encoding immunoglobulin heavy-chains) and hyperdiploidy. Further genetic aberrations, such as copy number alterations, complex structural events and other mutations are involved in disease progression and, in some cases, are associated with treatment resistance.

This poster from Nature Reviews Disease Primers illustrates the process of plasma cell development and summarizes the genetic alterations that are associated with development and progression of MM. This poster also highlights the frequencies of these genetic alterations.

This poster is freely available online thanks to support from STEMCELL Technologies.

The poster has been peer reviewed and, as always, Springer Nature retains sole responsibility for all editorial content.

Author informationAuthors and Affiliations

Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Aneta Mikulasova

NYU Langone Medical Center, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA

Gareth J. Morgan

Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Division of Hematology Oncology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA

Brian A. Walker

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Aneta Mikulasova, Gareth J. Morgan or Brian A. Walker.

About this articleCite this article

Mikulasova, A., Morgan, G.J. & Walker, B.A. Chromosomal abnormalities in multiple myeloma. Nat Rev Dis Primers 8, 42 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-022-00374-6

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