title: Immunoreactive interleukin-6 and acute phase proteins as prognostic factors in multiple myeloma. Finnish Leukemia Group.
abstract: High serum level of bioactive interleukin-6 (IL-6) is regarded as a predictor of poor prognosis in multiple myeloma (MM). On the other hand, the reported levels of immunoreactive IL-6 have been highly variable, and the prognostic value of immunoreactive IL-6 in MM is not clear. We have analyzed the prognostic significance of serum immunoreactive IL-6, as measured by a sensitive immunosorbent assay, in 210 patients with newly diagnosed MM subsequently treated with intermittent melphalan and prednisone. The serum levels of acute phase proteins C-reactive protein (CRP), alpha 1-antitrypsin (alpha 1AT), and acid alpha 1-glycoprotein (orosomucoid; OM) were evaluated as surrogates for IL-6. Serum IL-6, CRP, alpha 1AT, and OM levels were raised in 42%, 40%, 41%, and 24% of the patients, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the clinical stage of the patients and serum IL-6 (P = .006), alpha 1AT (P = .001), and OM (P = .004) levels at diagnosis. At 3 years, 52% of the patients were alive. Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that high levels of IL-6 (P = .002), CRP (P = .02), alpha 1AT (P < .001), OM (P = .007), beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M; P < .001), and thymidine kinase (P < .05) were all associated with 3-year mortality. In multivariate regression analysis, beta 2M (P < .0001) and alpha 1AT (P = .01) had independent prognostic significance. The patients with high levels of both beta 2M and alpha 1AT or IL-6 were at very high risk of dying within 3 years from diagnosis (16% and 21% of the patients in these groups were alive, respectively). When the patients were stratified according to the clinical stage, the prognostic significance of serum IL-6 and alpha 1AT was especially evident in stage II patients. When the patients were divided into two groups according to normal or raised serum IL-6 levels, the patients with high IL-6 levels had more frequent osteolytic bone lesions (P = .03) and a more aggressive disease. We conclude that serum immunoreactive IL-6 is a significant prognostic marker in MM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Turku University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Pelliniemi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Irjala
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mattila
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pulkki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rajamäki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tienhaara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laakso
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lahtinen
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D004002:Clodronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006454:Hemoglobins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012709:Serum Albumin; D004002:Clodronic Acid; D014527:Uric Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D008558:Melphalan; D002118:Calcium; D011241:Prednisone