Plasmablastic multiple myeloma is associated with increased vascular endothelial growth factor immunoexpression

C Ribas,M.R.R Silva,K.C.C Aguiar,J.O Bordin,G.W.B Colleoni,M.S.S Almeida

doi:10.1590/s0100-879x2005001100007

C Ribas, M.R.R Silva + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/s0100-879x2005001100007

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Abstract

The biologic basis of the negative prognosis of plasmablastic myeloma is not fully understood. To determine whether histologically aggressive multiple myeloma (MM) is associated with a more angiogenic marrow environment, bone marrow samples from 50 recently diagnosed MM patients were evaluated. Twelve percent (6/50) of patients presented plasmablastic MM, and this feature correlated with moderate/strong intensity of vascular endothelial growth factor staining of plasma cells (P = 0.036). Although plasmablastic MM was not associated with increasing of microvessel density, this new evidence of increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor on plasmablasts suggests that the adverse prognosis conferred by plasmablastic disease may be due, at least in part, to secretion of this angiogenic cytokine, also suggesting that the subset of MM patients with plasmablastic features may derive particular benefit from antiangiogenic therapies.

Highlights

The amount of microvessels in the bone marrow progressively increases along the spectrum of plasma cell disorders and becomes a prominent feature in active multiple myeloma (MM) [1]
Plasmablastic MM was not associated with increasing of microvessel density, this new evidence of increased expression of vascular endothelial growth factor on plasmablasts suggests that the adverse prognosis conferred by plasmablastic disease may be due, at least in part, to secretion of this angiogenic cytokine, suggesting that the subset of MM patients with plasmablastic features may derive particular benefit from antiangiogenic therapies
Based on the hypothesis that the adverse clinical evolution associated with plasmablastic MM [7,8] could be determined by an increase of angiogenesis, we studied the correlation between plasmablastic morphology, microvessel density (MVD) and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) immunoexpression in the bone marrow samples of 50 newly diagnosed MM patients

Summary

Introduction

The amount of microvessels in the bone marrow progressively increases along the spectrum of plasma cell disorders and becomes a prominent feature in active multiple myeloma (MM) [1]. Some studies have established that MM patients with increased marrow angiogenesis have shorter overall survival [2,3]. Based on the hypothesis that the adverse clinical evolution associated with plasmablastic MM [7,8] could be determined by an increase of angiogenesis, we studied the correlation between plasmablastic morphology, microvessel density (MVD) and VEGF immunoexpression in the bone marrow samples of 50 newly diagnosed MM patients. If this hypothesis were correct, this subset of MM patients would be suitable for antiangiogenic therapies

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