title: Response to thalidomide in progressive multiple myeloma is not mediated by inhibition of angiogenic cytokine secretion.
abstract: Thalidomide (Thal) is a drug with anti-angiogenic properties. To explore whether the effect of Thal on angiogenesis is associated with a reduction of angiogenic cytokine levels in progressive multiple myeloma (MM), plasma levels of basic fibroblast growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin 6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were measured in 51 patients at 0, 3 and 6 months of Thal therapy. After 6 months of treatment, 26 patients were considered to be responsive to Thal therapy, including 17 minimal responses, eight partial responses and one complete response. Only HGF (decreasing, P = 0.02) in the group of responsive patients showed a statistically significant change over a period of 6 months. Because HGF levels are known to correlate to MM tumour burden, we conclude that the mechanism of action of Thal in MM is not caused by a specific inhibition of angiogenic cytokine secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine V, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. k.neben@dkfz.de
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Neben
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moehler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Egerer
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goldschmidt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016207:Cytokines; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008222:Lymphokines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D013792:Thalidomide; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor