Last Updated: 09/21/23
Myeloma SPOREs
Multiple myeloma, a disease of white blood cells, will claim 12,590 lives in 2023 (2.1% of all cancer deaths), according to estimates from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Another 35,730 new cases were diagnosed in the same year with African Americans having around double the incidence of myeloma compared to that of Americans of European ancestry. While recent improvements in treatment have resulted in a more favorable outlook for patients, five-year survival rates are still unacceptably low: 55%. The first solicitation for myeloma SPORE applications was announced in 2001, applications were reviewed in 2002 and the first award given in 2003.