Multiple myeloma is primarily a malignancy of which type of cell?

Multiple myeloma is primarily a malignancy of plasma cells. Plasma cells are a type of white blood cell that specialize in the production of antibodies, which play a critical role in the immune response by identifying and neutralizing pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.

In multiple myeloma, these plasma cells become cancerous and proliferate uncontrollably in the bone marrow. As a result, they can produce excessive, abnormal antibodies known as monoclonal proteins or paraproteins. This overproduction can disrupt normal blood cell production and lead to various complications, including anemia, increased risk of infections, and bone lesions due to the crowding out of normal cells in the bone marrow.

Understanding that multiple myeloma specifically originates from plasma cells highlights the unique pathophysiology of the disease compared to other blood cell malignancies, such as leukemias or lymphomas, which primarily involve different types of white blood cells.