Certain biomarkers can help detect malignant changes in plasma cells before they develop into multiple myeloma. Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute examined two early precursors of the blood cancer and found they could differentiate malignant plasma cells from their benign counterparts.

Because these changes occur at the genetic level well before multiple myeloma actually develops, the discovery could some day help target malignancies before they progress to cancer.

Click here to read about this research at The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.