title: Interleukin-18 in multiple myeloma patients: serum levels in relation to response to treatment and survival.
abstract: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) plays a role in the host's response to tumours and angiogenesis. We determined serum levels of IL-18, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiogenin (ANG), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and CRP in 65 newly diagnosed myeloma patients. IL-18, VEGF, angiogenin, TNF-alpha and CRP were significantly higher at stage III in comparison to stages II and I. These cytokines (measured in 27 patients) significantly decreased after treatment. In survival analysis, higher levels of IL-18 were associated with a poorer prognosis. We conclude that increased serum IL-18 in myeloma patients correlates with advanced disease, increased levels of angiogenic cytokines and worse survival.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, Medical School of Crete, PO Box 1352, Crete, Greece. freda@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Alexandrakis
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Passam
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sfiridaki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moschandrea
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pappa
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liapi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petreli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roussou
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kyriakou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood*; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D008558:Melphalan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / Q000097:blood; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D014750:Vincristine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C046366:angiogenin; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic; D008558:Melphalan; D011241:Prednisone