SECURE study: baseline findings from a UK prospective cohort of incidentally detected MGUS

Journal article

Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS) is a clonal plasma-cell disorder characterised by the presence of a monoclonal protein without end-organ damage and is the earliest clinically detectable precursor to multiple myeloma (MM) [ 1 ]. MGUS is common in ageing populations, affecting 5% of adults over 50 years [ 2 , 3 ]. Although all MM is preceded by MGUS, the average annual risk of progression is only ~1% [ 4 , 5 ]. Progression endpoints differ by subtype: non-IgM MGUS typically progresses to MM, IgM MGUS often to lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenström macroglobulinaemia, and light-chain MGUS to LC-myeloma or AL amyloidosis [ 6 ]. This long preclinical window makes risk communication and monitoring central to care.

Authors: Knight, E; Krishnamoorthi, A; Balik, B; Byun, S; Brouwer, R

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Springer Nature [academic journals on nature.com]
• Journal: Blood Cancer Journal
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 1
• Publication date: 2026-07-20
• Acceptance date: 2026-07-10
• DOI: 10.1038/s41408-026-01576-x
• EISSN: 2044-5385
• ISSN: 2044-5385
• Language: English
• Keywords: Cohort; MEDLINE; Baseline (sea); Cohort study; Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance; Prospective cohort study