Study shows differences in blood cancer risk between men and women with MGUS

The scientific journal, Haematologica, published the research from the Haematological Malignancy Research Network (HMRN) – a long-established research programme, which Blood Cancer UK help fund - that tracks blood cancer diagnoses in the UK.

The researchers followed more than 4,600 people in the UK who were diagnosed with MGUS between 2005 and 2019. MGUS is a condition that affects plasma cells, a type of white blood cell.

MGUS is not cancer and often causes no symptoms; it’s usually picked up during routine blood tests and for most people, never leads to serious illness. However, in a small number of people, MGUS can develop into blood cancer, typically myeloma or lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.

The researchers found that most people with MGUS were still alive five years after diagnosis, and the majority did not develop blood cancer.

But they also saw striking differences between men and women, with men having consistently poorer survival and being more likely to go on to develop a subsequent blood cancer.

Notably, albeit rare, the study also found that men were at increased risk of developing other non-plasma cell blood cancers. These included myeloid blood cancers, such as acute myeloid leukaemia. These cancers are uncommon but can be fast-growing and serious. This increased risk was not seen in women.

This research helps scientists and doctors better understand patterns of risk across large groups of people. That knowledge can support more tailored monitoring in the future, focusing attention on people who may be at higher risk, while reassuring those at lower risk. In time better understanding of the factors that affect risk may also help to decrease the chances of people with MGUS developing cancer in the future.

Professor Eve Roman, HMRN’s lead researcher on the study, at the University of York, said:
“MGUS is very common, particularly as people get older, and most people – both men and women – will never go on to develop blood cancer. Interestingly our findings show a slightly higher risk for men than women. It’s important to understand though that our work is about understanding patterns across large numbers of people, not predicting what will happen to any one individual.”

Dr Frances Seymour, Consultant Haematologist added:
“These are really fascinating early findings. Starting to understand what influences people’s risk of developing cancer in the future will help us to support patients and clinicians to make more informed decisions about monitoring, while giving reassurance to people who are at very low risk. We’re now planning further work to help understand the drivers of the differences we’ve seen which might ultimately lead to strategies to reduce risks of cancer for patients in the future.”

Dr Richard Francis, Director of Research at Blood Cancer UK, said:
“Blood cancer is the third biggest cancer killer in the UK, yet it remains poorly understood and is often diagnosed in an emergency setting. Studies like this help us build a clearer picture of how blood cancers develop over time, and who may need closer follow-up after an MGUS diagnosis. At Blood Cancer UK, our research strategy is focused on understanding blood cancer risk, why some people develop blood cancer and preventing it. This is crucial if we want to move from one-size-fits-all follow-up to smarter, more personalised care.”

If you have MGUS and are worried about your risk, speak to your GP or hospital team, who can advise you based on your individual situation.

Our Support Service Nurses are available free and confidential support on 0808 2080 888 (Option 1).