title: Significance of Proliferation Markers and Prognostic Factors in Egyptian Patients with Multiple Myeloma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple myeloma (MM) is influenced by genetic and micro-environmental changes. Malignant plasma cells produce an abnormal monoclonal immunoglobulin, as well as cytokines, such as IL-10 and IL-6 which stimulate cells of the bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) and cause dysfunction and failure of many organs. B cell activating factor (BAFF), IL6 and IL10 are known to influence the growth and survival of malignant clones.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of the present study were to investigate the circulating levels of BAFF , IL-10 and IL-6, correlate them with well-known parameters of disease activity in patients with MM, and to detect their impact on patients' survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted on 89 newly diagnosed MM patients and seventy apparently healthy volunteers as a normal control group. BAFF, IL6, IL10 were measured by ELISA for both groups and survival analysis was performed for all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Studied markers were higher in the MM patients compared to the normal control subjects. Patients survival was improved by high serum BAFF levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  High levels of BAFF were found to improve patients' survival. BAFF and IL-6 can be considered probable diagnostic markers for MM.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology Department, NCI, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt E-mail : imanaga70@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Iman A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Abdelgawad
authors.forename: Noha H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Radwan
authors.forename: Roxan E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Shafik
authors.forename: Hala A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Shokralla
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015850:Interleukin-6; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D016753:Interleukin-10