Our Transplant Program Information about our transplant program 
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Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells -- a type of white blood cell that produces infection-fighting antibodies (immunoglobulins). It is one of a number of related blood disorders called monoclonal gammopathies, which include systemic light-chain amyloidosis (AL), a rare and often fatal disease, and less serious disease conditions, such as solitary plasmacytoma and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS).
"Monoclonal" means that a single family of identical plasma cells -- a clone -- is causing the disease; "gammopathy" indicates that the body's production of immunoglobulins (antibodies) is abnormally high. In a healthy individual, plasma cells make up between 0.2 to 2.8 percent of the bone marrow white cell count. In people with multiple myeloma or a related disease, abnormal plasma cells proliferate and can comprise 10 percent or more of the bone marrow's cells, crowding out healthy cells.
In this section, you will find up-to-date information about multiple myeloma and other plasma-cell diseases, and learn about Memorial Sloan-Kettering's expertise in caring for patients with these conditions.
