Epigenetics is the cell programming that governs gene expression and cell development[3]. In multiple myeloma, the normal epigenetic process is disrupted (also called epigenetic dysregulation) resulting in the growth of cancerous plasma cells, potential resistance to current treatment, and ultimately disease progression[5],[6].
Multiple myeloma impacts approximately 1 to 5 in every 100,000 people globally[7]. Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells, a kind of white blood cell present in bone marrow-the soft, blood-producing tissue that fills the center of most bones. The cancer is caused by the production and growth of abnormal cells within the plasma, which multiply and build up in the bone marrow, pushing out healthy cells and preventing them from functioning normally[8]. Multiple myeloma is an incurable disease with a high rate of relapse (when the cancer returns) and resistance (when the therapy stops working), despite currently available treatments[2]. It typically occurs in individuals 60 years of age or older, with few cases in individuals younger than 40[9].
