title: Angiopoietins as biomarker of disease activity and response to therapy in multiple myeloma.
abstract: Tumor angiogenesis is a complex process involving interplay of several angiogenic regulators. In the present study, mRNA expression and circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), hypoxia inducible factor (HiF)-1α, circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) and bone marrow microvessel density (MVD) were evaluated in multiple myeloma (MM). Compared to healthy controls, the levels of VEGF, bFGF, Ang-2, HiF-1α and cEPCs were significantly higher and Ang-1 and Ang-1/Ang-2 were lower in MM (p < 0.01). cEPC numbers correlated with Ang-1 (p = 0.03), Ang-2 (p = 0.01) and VEGF (p = 0.002). On multivariate analysis, reduced Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio (p = 0.005) at baseline was an independent predictor for response to therapy. After therapy, a decrease in Ang-2 (p < 0.001) and an increase in Ang-1/Ang-2 ratio (p = 0.003) were observed in responders. This study highlights the role of angiopoietins in MM which may, thus, be evaluated as potential targets for anti-angiogenic therapy in future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Oncology, Dr BRA Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Archana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhaskar
authors.forename: Ritu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Sreenivas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vishnubhatla
authors.forename: Lalit
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Atul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Mehar Chand
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Prasenjit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Sonu Chand
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Thakur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042682:Angiopoietins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins; D042682:Angiopoietins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor