The project I was working on was centered around screening for Multiple Myeloma (MM) precursors, such as MGUS, in a high-risk population using mass spectrometry. Currently, people do not get diagnosed with MM until its end stage and organ damage has occurred. One of the goals of the project I was working on was to use a biomarker, an M-spike, to screen for precursors of the disease before it progresses to try to study its mechanisms further. The PROMISE study screens healthy individuals who may be at a higher risk for developing this type of blood cancer. I worked on screening individuals from this study using highly sensitive MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry and the Optillite Protein Analyzer to screen for potential monoclonal proteins.
CaNCURE Research Presentation: https://youtu.be/YYaiszJHB4I
