In which type of cancer is an M-spike more commonly assessed?

The assessment of an M-spike in serum protein electrophoresis is primarily associated with multiple myeloma, which is a type of cancer that arises from plasma cells in the bone marrow. Multiple myeloma is characterized by the abnormal proliferation of these plasma cells, which often leads to an overproduction of a specific type of immunoglobulin. This results in the appearance of a monoclonal protein referred to as an M-protein or M-spike in the blood.

The presence of an M-spike is a critical diagnostic feature for multiple myeloma and is used to monitor disease progression and response to treatment. In contrast, lung cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer do not typically present with an M-spike as a hallmark of the disease. Instead, these cancers may involve other markers or diagnostic methods that do not include the assessment of serum protein electrophoresis for identifying monoclonal proteins. Therefore, recognizing that the M-spike is a definitive indicator in multiple myeloma helps establish its diagnostic importance specifically in this cancer type.