Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common type of blood cancer in the United States, and its rates are on the rise. A new study now offers clues about why men are more likely than women to develop this serious disease—and why they often have more severe cases.
Published in the journal Cancer, the study looked at 850 patients who were newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma. All of them were part of the IMAGE (Integrative Molecular And Genetic Epidemiology) study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
The researchers found that men were nearly twice as likely to have multiple myeloma as women. Not only that, but the disease was more advanced when it was found in men. They were more likely to be diagnosed at stage III, which is the most serious stage according to the International Staging System.
Men also had higher levels of cancer-related proteins in their blood. These abnormal proteins, called serum monoclonal proteins, are made by the cancerous cells and indicate a larger amount of disease. Men experienced more organ failure, particularly kidney failure, and had more bone damage compared to women.
Interestingly, men were less likely to have low bone mineral density, which may at first seem like a protective factor. However, other features that define myeloma were different between men and women, showing that the disease may act differently based on sex.
The researchers made sure to account for a wide range of lifestyle and background factors, such as race, age, body mass index, education, income, smoking, and alcohol use. Even after taking these into account, the sex differences remained.
They also found clues in the patients’ chromosomes. Some of the abnormalities that lead to the start of multiple myeloma were more common in younger men. These genetic differences may help explain why men are not only more likely to get the disease but also tend to have more aggressive forms.
Lead researcher Dr. Krystle L. Ong from the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center explained that this research points to sex-specific biological mechanisms that could influence how the disease starts and progresses. “These findings may be used to improve risk stratification, diagnosis, and tailored treatments for both men and women,” she said.
In short, this study offers a better understanding of why men are more affected by multiple myeloma and how their experience with the disease may differ from women’s. The findings could help doctors develop more personalized ways to diagnose and treat this cancer in the future.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that a low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and berry that can prevent cancer, diabetes, and obesity.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects the risks of heart disease and cancer and results showing vitamin D supplements could strongly reduce cancer death.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
