title: Soluble interleukin-6 receptor (sIL-6R), a new prognostic factor in multiple myeloma.
abstract: sIL-6R is a 55 kD soluble molecule mediating the interleukin-6 (IL-6) signal through the IL-6 receptor-associated transmembrane signal transducer, gp130. It has recently been suggested that sIL-6R serum levels may reflect disease severity in multiple myeloma (MM). We determined sIL-6R serum levels in 25 normal controls (NC) and in 80 MM patients at diagnosis and during the course of the disease. Measurements were done by ELISA. In NC, sIL-6R levels ranged from 14 to 40 ng/ml (median 28 ng/ml) whereas in MM patients the range was 10-200 ng/ml (median 38 ng/ml) (P<0.01). 61 patients entered remission and 19 were resistant. Median sIL-6R value at diagnosis was 36 ng/ml (10-120) in responding patients, and 82 ng/ml (20-200) in non-responding patients (P<0.001). During a follow-up from 12 to 89 months, sIL-6R values remained more or less stable in most patients. High sIL-6R levels correlated with poor survival.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Haematology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Patras Medical School, Greece.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kyrtsonis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dedoussis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zervas
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perifanis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baxevanis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stamatelou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maniatis
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000378:metabolism*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6