A historical perspective on milestones in multiple myeloma research

Abstract

The first well-documented case of multiple myeloma was reported in 1844 by Samuel Solly. In this article, the author presents a historical review of the disease. In particular, the review is focused on the main steps, including the definition of Bence Jones proteinuria, the characterization of tumoral plasma cells and serum globulins, and the fundamental contribution of Jan Waldenstrom. Finally, treatment of multiple myeloma, as well as the development of new agents, is discussed.

Keywords: hematology; history of medicine; multiple myeloma; tumor growth.