Abstract
The matrix protein osteopontin has been shown to be a marker of osteoclastic activity in multiple myeloma patients, as well as a regulator of angiogenesis. We measured serum levels of osteopontin in 50 untreated multiple myeloma patients (in 25, also after treatment) and examined the relation to markers of osteolytic and angiogenic activity. The median (range) of serum osteopontin was 85 (5-232) in the patient group vs. 36 (2-190) ng/ml in the control group. Serum osteopontin levels were significantly higher in patients with advanced stage or grade of myeloma disease. All patients with serum osteopontin levels >100 ng/ml had advanced stage (II or III) or high grade bone disease, whereas stage I or low grade patients had serum osteopontin levels <100ng/ml. Serum osteopontin levels significantly decreased after treatment. There was a positive correlation of osteopontin with the bone turnover marker N-terminal propeptide of procollagen type I (NTx) and the angiogenic markers vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone marrow microvessel density (r: 0.35, 0.47 and 0.30 respectively, p < 0.05). These results support osteopontin as a dual marker of bone destruction and angiogenic activity in myeloma patients. Osteopontin represents a useful biomarker for monitoring myeloma disease activity.
Highlights
The matrix protein osteopontin has been shown to be a marker of osteoclastic activity in multiple myeloma patients, as well as a regulator of angiogenesis
In vitro studies suggest that Opn and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) cooperatively enhance angiogenesis in MM [2,3]
Osteopontin and VEGF were measured with a solidphase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
Summary
The matrix protein osteopontin has been shown to be a marker of osteoclastic activity in multiple myeloma patients, as well as a regulator of angiogenesis. We compared the serum levels of Opn with those of established markers of angiogenic activity and bone destruction in 50 (23 males, median age 68 y.o.) untreated MM patients and 25 healthy age & sex-matched blood donors (median age 65 y.o.). Osteopontin and VEGF were measured with a solidphase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Quantikine®, R&D Systems Inc. Minneapolis MN, USA). * Correspondence: alexandm@med.uoc.gr 3Department of Hematology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece Full list of author information is available at the end of the article infiltration by myeloma cells was estimated in all patients.
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