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Freelite® Serum Free Light Chains Can Be Identified in 68% of NSMM patients By definition with current methods, between 1% and 3% of all patients with multiple myeloma have been characterized as nonsecretory multiple myeloma. These patients have no detectable paraprotein in serum or urine of intact immunoglobulin or free light chain. Until recently, diagnosis and monitoring of NSMM has relied on clinical assessment and bone marrow biopsy. However, in a study 19/28 patients categorized as NSMM were found to have abnormal free kappa/lambda ratios.1 |
Changes in serum free light chain concentrations and clinical status in 6 patients with nonsecretory Myeloma (Numbers identify each patient). |
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A further 4 patients had suppression of either free kappa, free lambda or both. This means that for the first time there is a tumor marker available for monitoring treatment and disease progress in these patients. Published uniform response criteria for multiple myeloma (2006) stated that the sensitivity of the free light chain (FLC) assay enables assessment of response in Nonsecretory Multiple Myeloma patients, allowing them to be included in clinical trials.2 Freelite® enables sensitive quantification of serum free light chains in NSMM and can be used for monitoring of these patients.
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Freelite® is a valuable tool at all stages of patient management. It is useful when screening to support an initial diagnosis and can be used throughout treatment management as a reliable monitoring tool.
- Drayson M, et al. Serum free light-chain measurements for identifying and monitoring patients with nonsecretory multiple myeloma. Blood 2001; 97:9:2900-2902
- Durie BGM, et al. International uniform response criteria for multiple myeloma. Leukemia 2006; 20:1467-1473
