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- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Imaging technique that uses magnetic energy to provide detailed images of bone and soft tissue.
- Maintenance therapy
Treatment that is given to patients in remission over a long period of time, in order to reduce the risk of relapse.
- Malignant
Cancerous, continuing to divide.
- Marketing Authorization Application (MAA)
Compilation of information on the safety and efficacy of a new drug that is submitted to the European regulatory agency in order to request approval to market the drug as therapy for a particular disease indication; similar to a New Drug Application (NDA), which is submitted in the United States.
- Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)
Enzymes that break down the structure of connective tissue.
- Melphalan
Type of chemotherapy often used in the treatment of myeloma (also known as Alkeran®).
- Metastasis
The spread of tumor cells from the initial site to other areas of the body.
- Microvascular density (MVD)
Measure of the number of blood vessels in the bone marrow as an indication of the degree of angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels). A value of less than 6 blood vessels per field when viewing bone marrow cells at 400x magnification is associated with a more favorable prognosis.
- Mini-allogeneic transplant
Type of allogeneic stem cell transplant that uses lower doses of chemotherapy and thus does not completely destroy the bone marrow; also known as mini-transplant or non-myeloablative transplant.
- Mini-transplant
See mini-allogeneic transplant.
- Minimal residual disease (MRD)
The amount of myeloma cells remaining after a course of treatment, as measured by very sensitive testing; can be as low as one myeloma cell in 1 million normal cells.
- Minimal response
Treatment outcome where there is less than 50% decrease in M protein; also known as minor response. Some myeloma groups consider minimal response to be part of the definition of stable disease.
- Mobilization
Administration of colony-stimulating factors or chemotherapy to help move stem cells from the bone marrow into the blood stream to increase the number of peripheral blood stem cells collected for a stem cell transplant.
- Monoclonal antibody
Type of man-made antibody that is used in the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. All monoclonal antibodies of a specific type are identical to each other.
- Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)
Precancerous and asymptomatic condition noted by the presence of M protein in the serum or urine. MGUS may progress to myeloma.
- Monoclonal (M) protein
A type of protein made by myeloma cells, used to estimate the extent of myeloma disease. It is an abnormal type of antibody (or immunoglobulin) and is found in the blood or urine. M protein levels are used to determine the effectiveness of myeloma treatments.
- Monocyte/Macrophage
Type of white blood cell important in the immune response.
- Morphology
Overall appearance.
- MP
A therapy consisting of the combination of melphalan, a chemotherapy drug, and prednisone, a steroid. MP has been used in myeloma treatment for many years. Today, it is usually given in combination with one of the newer agents, such as Revlimid, Velcade or Thalomid.
- Mucositis
Inflammation of mucous membranes lining the digestive tract; a common and painful side effect of intensive chemotherapy or radiotherapy that can result in sores and infection.
- Mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept®)
Immunosuppressive drug used following allogeneic transplants that helps prevent graft-versus-host disease (donor cells attacking the recipient’s cells).
- Myeloablation
The killing of bone marrow by radiation or chemotherapy. This term usually refers to the complete or near-complete destruction of the bone marrow.
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
A group of diseases that affect the blood. It is not related to multiple myeloma.
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