Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cells that normally produce antibodies. While significance advancements have been made in the treatment of this condition, it is still uncurable, and often diagnosed only after patients have experienced organ damage.

Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance—a benign hematologic condition characterized by an abnormal protein produced by plasma cells—is a known precursor to multiple myeloma.

In a recent study, researchers enrolled 2,600+ patients at higher risk of developing multiple myeloma and screened them for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (the precursor condition).

After controlling for age, sex, race, education, and income, the investigators found that patients with obesity had a 73% higher likelihood of having monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance compared with patients with normal BMIs. The researchers also identified other lifestyle factors that reduced chances of the condition (getting high levels of daily exercise) and contributed to the risk (heavy smoking and sleeping less at night).

More research is needed to further explore the connections between lifestyle factors and risk of multiple myeloma—meaning it’s still to early to say for sure that there is a direct causal link.

“These results guide our future research in understanding the influence of modifiable risk factors such as weight, exercise, and smoking on cancer risk,” said David Lee, MD, MPH, an internal medicine resident at Massachusetts General Hospital and the lead author of the study. Read more.