Blood Test Could Predict and Identify Early Relapses in Myeloma Patients

Multiple myeloma is an incurable cancer of the bone marrow, and while many patients now live for more than a decade after diagnosis, a significant proportion relapse much earlier with poor outcomes. Around 20% of patients develop a high-risk form of the disease that returns soon after initial treatment, often limiting survival to just two or three years. Current monitoring tools struggle to detect early relapse, creating an urgent need for more sensitive and less invasive approaches. Now, a newly funded research project will evaluate a blood-based method designed to identify relapse earlier and more accurately.

The research, led at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Oxford, UK), in collaboration with University Hospital of Wales (Cardiff, UK), will investigate a mass spectrometry-based technique known as quantitative immunoprecipitation–mass spectrometry. This approach analyzes proteins in blood samples to detect subtle disease changes that may signal an impending relapse.

Unlike standard monitoring, which relies heavily on bone marrow biopsies, the technique is designed to work using routine blood draws. If proven more sensitive, it could significantly reduce the need for repeated and painful bone marrow procedures while providing clinicians with clearer insight into disease progression. The method is intended to identify relapse at a much earlier stage, when treatment adjustments are more likely to be effective.

The Cancer Research UK–funded project will test the technique in patients with high-risk myeloma enrolled in the Myeloma XV RADAR clinical trial. Researchers will assess whether the blood-based approach can detect relapse earlier than existing monitoring strategies. The goal is to determine if quantitative immunoprecipitation–mass spectrometry can reliably identify early molecular signs of disease return before clinical relapse becomes apparent.

If successful, the test could allow clinicians to intervene sooner with alternative therapies, potentially improving survival for patients with aggressive disease. Earlier relapse detection could also help tailor treatment strategies more precisely and reduce unnecessary procedures. The researchers plan to validate the technique further in clinical trials and explore its integration into routine myeloma monitoring if sensitivity and reliability are confirmed.

Related Links:
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospital of Wales