Key Benefits

• Screen for myeloma-related protein changes and inflammation using albumin, globulin, and ESR.
• Spot excess globulins and low A/G ratio suggesting an abnormal single-antibody protein.
• Flag low albumin that signals disease activity and worsened myeloma prognosis.
• Track total protein trends to gauge cancer load and treatment response over time.
• Clarify inflammation with ESR, which often rises from excess antibodies.
• Protect kidneys by flagging high antibody levels linked to myeloma kidney risk.
• Explain symptoms like fatigue or dizziness by identifying thick-blood risk from high proteins.
• Pair results with SPEP, immunofixation, free light chains, calcium, creatinine, and symptoms.

What are Multiple Myeloma biomarkers?

Multiple myeloma biomarkers are measurable signals in blood that come from abnormal plasma cells and the organs they affect. The hallmark is a single clone of plasma cells that secretes a uniform antibody (monoclonal immunoglobulin, “M protein”) or its fragments (free light chains). These proteins circulate in the blood and can build up, making them reliable flags of the cancer’s activity and size (tumor burden). Other blood markers capture the ripple effects: proteins shed by tumor and immune cells (beta‑2 microglobulin), simple proteins made by the liver (albumin) that shift with disease stress, and by‑products of bone breakdown (bone resorption markers) as myeloma erodes bone. Chemistry signals from injured organs—kidney filters stressed by light chains, crowded marrow causing anemia, calcium released from bone—round out the picture. Together, these biomarkers let clinicians detect myeloma early, separate it from look‑alikes, and follow its rhythm over time—confirming response, spotting relapse, and guiding therapy—without repeatedly entering the bone marrow.

Why is blood testing for Multiple Myeloma important?

Blood testing in multiple myeloma tracks the abnormal antibodies plasma cells produce and the ripple effects across immunity, blood thickness, kidneys, and marrow. These tests reveal how much monoclonal protein is present, whether normal antibodies are suppressed, and how inflamed or protein-depleted the body has become.Typical reference ranges: albumin 3.5–5.0, total protein 6.0–8.3, globulin 2.0–3.5, A/G ratio 1.0–2.2. ESR in adults is often about 0–15 for men and 0–20 for women. Health tends to sit with albumin in the mid-to-high normal range; total protein and globulin near the middle; an A/G ratio above 1, toward the middle-to-higher end; and ESR at the low end. ESR naturally runs higher with age and in women; pregnancy lowers albumin and raises ESR.When values are low, they signal different physiologic stresses. Lower albumin reflects systemic inflammation, reduced synthesis, or renal loss; in myeloma it often tracks greater disease burden and may accompany fatigue, edema, and poor appetite. Falling total protein can indicate malnutrition or protein loss; in myeloma it may paradoxically coexist with a dominant M‑protein while normal antibodies shrink. Low globulin (hypogammaglobulinemia) means fewer protective antibodies, with recurrent sinus or chest infections. A low A/G ratio generally means albumin has dropped or globulins have risen from a monoclonal spike. A very low ESR is usually not worrisome.Big picture: these markers integrate marrow plasma cell activity with kidney function, immune competence, blood viscosity, and anemia. They help stage risk (albumin is part of standard staging), follow response, and anticipate complications such as infections, fractures, and renal injury over time.

What insights will I get?

Multiple Myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell crucial for immune defense. Blood testing for Multiple Myeloma provides insight into how this disease affects the body’s protein balance, immune system, and overall stability. At Superpower, we assess Albumin, Total Protein, Globulin, the Albumin/Globulin (A/G) ratio, and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) to help reveal the impact of Multiple Myeloma on your physiology.Albumin is a major blood protein made by the liver, important for maintaining fluid balance and transporting hormones and nutrients. Total Protein measures all proteins in the blood, including albumin and globulins. Globulins are a group of proteins, many of which are antibodies produced by plasma cells. The A/G ratio compares the amount of albumin to globulins, and ESR is a marker of inflammation, reflecting how quickly red blood cells settle in a test tube.In Multiple Myeloma, abnormal plasma cells often produce excess globulins (immunoglobulins), which can raise Total Protein and lower the A/G ratio. Albumin may decrease due to inflammation or impaired liver function. ESR is typically elevated, signaling increased inflammation or abnormal protein levels. Together, these markers help assess disease activity, immune system disruption, and the body’s ability to maintain stable internal conditions.Interpretation of these biomarkers can be influenced by factors such as age, pregnancy, acute illness, chronic diseases, and certain medications. Laboratory methods and reference ranges may also vary, so results are best understood in context.