Interleukin-6 in multiple myeloma: correlation with disease activity and Ki-67 proliferation index.

Abstract

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is supposed to be a growth factor in multiple myeloma (MM). Applying a bioassay and a modified ELISA, we measured serum IL-6 values in 64 patients with overt MM, seven patients with smouldering myeloma (SMM), 57 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and 40 healthy volunteers as controls. IL-6 failed to discriminate between MGUS and MM, stage I, whereas comparison of MM, stage I and stage II/III (p = 0.0143), or comparison of stable disease/remission and progressive disease (p < 0.0001) revealed significant differences. Furthermore, we found significantly higher IL-6 values in overt MM compared to SMM (p = 0.0018). Using a Ki67/CD38 immunohistological double staining method we found a significant correlation between proliferation of bone marrow myeloma cells and serum IL-6 values in 15 patients (p = 0.005). These data demonstrate that IL-6 is a parameter of disease activity in MM and, beside its role in tumor biology, may become a valuable supplement to the established risk factors when selecting patients with unfavourable clinical course for more aggressive treatment modalities.

• Authors: J Thaler, F Fechner, M Herold, H Huber
• Journal: Leukemia & lymphoma (Leuk Lymphoma) Vol. 12 Issue 3-4 Pg. 265-71 (Jan 1994) ISSN: 1042-8194 [Print] United States
• PMID: 8167557 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Interleukin-6
• Ki-67 Antigen
• Neoplasm Proteins
• Nuclear Proteins

Topics

• Biological Assay
• Biopsy
• Bone Marrow (pathology)
• Cell Division
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (blood)
• Ki-67 Antigen
• Multiple Myeloma (blood, immunology, pathology)
• Neoplasm Proteins (analysis)
• Neoplasm Staging
• Nuclear Proteins (analysis)
• Paraproteinemias (blood, immunology, pathology)
• Reference Values