Plasma levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 predict progression-free survival following thalidomide therapy in patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma.
We studied marrow angiogenesis and plasma levels of angiogenic cytokines in 38 patients receiving thalidomide therapy for previously untreated myeloma. The effect of therapy and the relationship of cytokine levels to myeloma cell proliferation, bone marrow microvessel density and progression-free survival (PFS) were studied. High pretreatment tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) levels (> 11 pg/ml) and increased interleukin (IL)-6 of > 2 pg/ml predicted for poorer PFS (TNFalpha, 48% versus 74% at 2 years, P = 0.01; IL-6, 24% versus 70% at 2 years, P = 0.01). None of the other parameters predicted response or PFS, and no significant changes in cytokine levels occurred with therapy.
Thompson
Michael A
MA
Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN, USA.
Witzig
Thomas E
TE
Kumar
Shaji
S
Timm
Michael M
MM
Haug
Jessica
J
Fonseca
Rafael
R
Greipp
Philip R
PR
Lust
John A
JA
Rajkumar
S Vincent
SV
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000098:blood supply; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013792:Thalidomide