Moffitt Cancer Center Joins Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to Help Stop Blood Cancer

TAMPA, Fla. — Moffitt Cancer Center has joined Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to provide free screenings to eligible adults who are at a higher risk for having or developing multiple myeloma or other related conditions. This initiative is through the PROMISE Study, a national cancer screening/cohort program to help researchers understand who is at risk based on a number of factors. The goal is to detect multiple myeloma before it becomes symptomatic and to monitor those who are at increased risk in order to study and hopefully prevent the development of the disease.

“We are happy to be part of the PROMISE Study and join our colleagues at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to help find answers to a cancer that does not have early signs and symptoms. Often, multiple myeloma causes no symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage, which can be devastating to patients and their families,” said Ken Shain, Ph.D., M.D., director of the Pentecost Myeloma Research Center at Moffitt and associate member of the Malignant Hematology Department.

Multiple myeloma is not a common cancer, but it is the second most common blood cancer diagnosis after non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 32,000 people are at risk for developing multiple myeloma and 12,000 will die from this disease annually. Black adults are two to three times more likely to develop multiple myeloma compared to other racial groups. This disease affects adults who are typically 65 to 74, but in the Black community, multiple myeloma can affect younger people. Men are more likely to develop multiple myeloma than women, and Black men develop the condition at a higher rate than any other racial/sex category. 

“There is a critical need to reach out to patients from all racial and ethnic groups early, in a premalignant state, to ideally prevent the morbidity of active multiple myeloma,” said Brandon Blue, M.D., assistant member of the Malignant Hematology Department at Moffitt.

“This cancer has always been evasive at early detection, and because of the generosity of Stand Up To Cancer who provided funding to launch this study, we are able to offer free screenings to adults to help scientists learn more about this cancer and develop a methodology that will enable us to develop early diagnostic solutions, which will help save more lives,” said Irene Ghobrial, M.D., Lavine Family Chair for Preventative Cancer Therapies, clinical investigator and senior physician at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and professor of medicine at Harvard School of Medicine.

To be eligible to participate in the PROMISE study, you must fall into at least one of the follow categories:

1. Individuals between the ages of 40-75 and who self-identify as being Black or African American; or
2. Individuals who are between the ages of 40-75 and have a first-degree blood relative (parent, sibling or child) who has been diagnosed with any type of blood cancer such as lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance or smoldering myeloma; or
3. Individuals who are 18 or older and have or had two or more relatives diagnosed with any blood cancer can also participate.

Eligible participants will have a kit shipped to their home that they can take to any Quest Diagnostics center to have a small blood sample drawn at no charge. Participants may ask another health care provider to draw their blood for this study if they are willing. Quest will send the blood sample to the research team to be tested for myeloma and its precursor conditions. The team of doctors and nurses at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will then contact participants to discuss their results and help them find a trusted hematologist/oncologist in their area if they test positive.

“We are hoping that Floridians will sign up for the PROMISE Study to help us stop blood cancer,” said Shain. “Everyone who participates is helping researchers to find new ways to prevent and treat blood cancer, which could help them and their loved ones.”

About Moffitt Cancer Center
Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 51 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt’s expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet^® status, its highest distinction. With more than 7,500 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $2.4 billion. For more information, call 1-888-MOFFITT (1-888-663-3488), visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the momentum on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

About Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is one of the world’s leading centers of cancer research and treatment. Dana-Farber’s mission is to reduce the burden of cancer through scientific inquiry, clinical care, education, community engagement, and advocacy. We provide the latest treatments in cancer for adults through Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center and for children through Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Dana-Farber is the only hospital nationwide with a top 10 U.S. News & World Report Best Cancer Hospital ranking in both adult and pediatric care.

As a global leader in oncology, Dana-Farber is dedicated to a unique and equal balance between cancer research and care, translating the results of discovery into new treatments for patients locally and around the world, offering more than 1,100 clinical trials. 

###