[IL-6, p53 and proto-oncogene c-myc play different roles as biological markers of plasma cell dyscrasias].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the role of serum levels of IL-6 and p53 mutant protein as well as of c-myc proto-oncogene alterations: a) in discriminating between benign (MGUS) and malignant Plasma cell dyscrasias (Multiple and Microsecreting Myeloma, Plasmocytoma); b) in monitoring the clinical course of malignant forms of this disease.


METHODS
Eighty-eight patients affected by Plasma cell dyscrasias (58 MGUS, 24 MM and 6 PLC) entered this study. Using commercially available ELISA kits, serum levels of IL-6 and p53 have been determined in all the patients. In addition, a selected group of patients (n = 30) was also analyzed for structural c-myc gene alterations by Southern blot technique.


RESULTS
The results show that, conversely from p53 protein, IL-6 and c-myc gene may represent useful diagnostic markers for discriminating benign from malignant forms of Plasma cell dyscrasia. On the contrary, preliminary findings of the same work indicate a potential role for the mutant p53 protein in monitoring the response to chemotherapy of patients affected by MM or PLM.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, these data suggest that the combined use of IL-6, p53 and c-myc may provide a new approach for a more rational management of Plasma cell dyscrasia patients.
Alvino
S
S
Servizio di Patologia Clinica, Istituto Regina Elena per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori, Roma, Italia.
Marcucci
M
M
Canzoniere
D
D
Mosiello
A
A
Del Monte
G
G
Venturo
I
I
Rinaldi
M
M
Gandolfo
G M
GM
Lopez
M
M
Greco
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D010265:Paraproteinemias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000097:blood*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000097:blood*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015850:Interleukin-6; C000715470:MAS1 protein, human; D000090063:Proto-Oncogene Mas; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53