Why are men more likely to develop multiple myeloma than women?

Study identifies several clinical features involved.

2026-01-12

(Press-News.org) Rates of multiple myeloma (MM), the second most common blood cancer in the United States, are increasing and are twice as high in men than in women. A new study published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, provides insights that may help to explain this disparity.

To investigate the sex difference in MM, researchers analyzed data on 850 patients with newly diagnosed MM enrolled in the Integrative Molecular And Genetic Epidemiology (IMAGE) study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Compared with female patients, male patients were more likely to have advanced (International Staging System stage III) disease at the time of diagnosis. Males were also more likely to have high myeloma load—serum monoclonal protein (an abnormal protein produced by cancerous blood cells), more organ failure (especially kidney failure), and bone damage. Men were less likely than women to have low bone mineral density, and myeloma-defining features tended to differ between the two sexes. These differences were apparent even after taking numerous factors into account—including race, age, body mass index, education, income, smoking, and alcohol use.

Analyses suggested that certain chromosomal abnormalities that lead to initiation of myeloma occurring more often in younger males may help to explain some of the differences seen in this study.

“This research suggests that sex-specific mechanisms promote multiple myeloma pathogenesis, which may account for the excess risk seen in men,” said lead author Krystle L. Ong, PhD, of the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “These findings may be used to improve risk stratification, diagnosis, and tailored treatments for both men and women with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma or related early precursor conditions.”

Additional information
NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. A free abstract of this article will be available via the CANCER Newsroom upon online publication. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com

Full Citation:
“Sex differences in the clinical presentation of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.” Krystle L. Ong, Kevin D. Arnold, Meredith C. Wessel, Gayatri Ravi, Faith E. Davies, Gareth J. Morgan, and Elizabeth E. Brown. CANCER; Published Online: January 12, 2026 (DOI: 10.1002/cncr.70192).
URL Upon Publication: https://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/cncr.70192

Author Contact: Richard Nieves, Communications Director at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham at rnieves@uabmc.edu or +1 205-603-7180

About the Journal   
CANCER is a peer-reviewed publication of the American Cancer Society integrating scientific information from worldwide sources for all oncologic specialties. The objective of CANCER is to provide an interdisciplinary forum for the exchange of information among oncologic disciplines concerned with the etiology, course, and treatment of human cancer. CANCER is published on behalf of the American Cancer Society by Wiley and can be accessed online. Follow CANCER on X @JournalCancer and Instagram @ACSJournalCancer, and stay up to date with the American Cancer Society Journals on LinkedIn and YouTube.

About Wiley     
Wiley is a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence for the advancement of scientific discovery, innovation, and learning. With more than 200 years at the center of the scholarly ecosystem, Wiley combines trusted publishing heritage with AI-powered platforms to transform how knowledge is discovered, accessed, and applied. From individual researchers and students to Fortune 500 R&D teams, Wiley enables the transformation of scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact. From knowledge to impact—Wiley is redefining what's possible in science and learning. Visit us at Wiley.com and Investors.Wiley.com. Follow us on Facebook, X, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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Why are men more likely to develop multiple myeloma than women?

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