Miles for Myeloma 5K

Miles for Myeloma 5K + Kids Dash

Sunday, October 22, 2023

What is Multiple Myeloma?

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer of a type of white blood cells called plasma cell, which are found in the bone marrow.  Normal plasma cells make antibodies to protect you from infectious agents such as viruses and bacteria.  In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells grow out of control, crowding out the normal cells in the bone marrow that make red blood cells, platelets and other white blood cells that help fight infection.

The exact cause of multiple myeloma has not been identified, but research has shown that multiple myeloma is caused by certain genetic mutations which are unique to each person. An estimated 34,000 adults in the US will be diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2023, and approximately 160,000 new cases are diagnosed worldwide each year.

Beneficiary

All proceeds benefit the UCSF Stephen & Nancy Grand Multiple Myeloma Translational Initiative (“MMTI”), the West Coast’s leading myeloma translational program with six clinicians and over 2,000 active patients.  The MMTI has a robust clinical trials program, a myeloma tissue bank, a dedicated myeloma translational laboratory, and active fundamental research that has led to two novel products entering clinical testing, including the identification of an approved drug that could help with overcoming certain forms of drug resistance and a pipeline of novel myeloma cellular therapies.