title: Plasma Levels of Monocyte Chemotactic Protein-1 Are Associated with Clinical Features and Angiogenesis in Patients with Multiple Myeloma.
abstract: The aim of this pilot study was to determine the plasma levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and possible associations with angiogenesis and the main clinical features of untreated patients with multiple myeloma (MM). ELISA was used to determine plasma MCP-1 levels in 45 newly diagnosed MM patients and 24 healthy controls. The blood vessels were highlighted by immunohistochemical staining, and computer-assisted image analysis was used for more objective and accurate determination of two parameters of angiogenesis: microvessel density (MVD) and total vascular area (TVA). The plasma levels of MCP-1 were compared to these parameters and the presence of anemia, renal dysfunction, and bone lesions. A significant positive correlation was found between plasma MCP-1 concentrations and TVA (p = 0.02). The MCP-1 levels were significantly higher in MM patients with evident bone lesions (p = 0.01), renal dysfunction (p = 0.02), or anemia (p = 0.04). Therefore, our preliminary results found a positive association between plasma MCP-1 levels, angiogenesis (expressed as TVA), and clinical features in patients with MM. However, additional prospective studies with a respectable number of patients should be performed to authenticate these results and establish MCP-1 as a possible target of active treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Rijeka University Hospital Centre, Krešimirova 42, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Valković
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Emina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Babarović
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ksenija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lučin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Štifter
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Rijeka University Hospital Centre, Krešimirova 42, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Merica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aralica
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytology, Rijeka University Hospital Centre, Krešimirova 42, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Seili-Bekafigo
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Rijeka University Hospital Centre, Krešimirova 42, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Antica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duletić-Načinović
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia.
authors.forename: Nives
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jonjić
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001808:Blood Vessels; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2