title: Soluble MICA as an independent prognostic factor for the overall survival and progression-free survival of multiple myeloma patients.
abstract: Major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A (MICA) molecules are frequently expressed in lymphoproliferative malignancies including multiple myeloma (MM). MICA activates NK cells and co-stimulates T cells by interaction with its immunoreceptor NKG2D. In contrast, soluble MICA (sMICA) molecules impair the functions of NKG2D(+) T and NK cells, which may facilitate tumor cell escape from immunosurveillance. Here, we analyzed the clinical relevance of sMICA in 97 MM patients. sMICA (mean+/-SEM pg/ml) was significantly increased (p<0.0001) in patients (429+/-20) compared to controls (230+/-20; N=43). Serial determination showed a strong correlation between increments of sMICA and paraprotein levels (r=0.543, p<0.0001, N=49). sMICA levels >305 pg/ml are associated with a poor overall (p=0.004) and progression-free survival (p=0.002). Multivariate analysis revealed sMICA as an independent predictive factor for overall (p=0.007) and progression-free survival (p=0.002). Thus, our results suggest sMICA as a potent prognostic marker in MM, which may be useful to identify risk patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rebmann
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schütt
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brandhorst
authors.forename: Bertram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Opalka
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moritz
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nowrousian
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grosse-Wilde
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C099187:MHC class I-related chain A