Procollagen I amino-terminal propeptide as a potential marker for multiple myeloma.

OBJECTIVES

Investigating relationship between bone markers, cytokines and conventional prognostic parameters in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and to assess the clinical application of bone turnover markers.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Sixty-four patients with MM were examined before treatment and followed for survival for over 7 years. Serum concentrations of bone markers and cytokines were determined by the Roche and R&D kits, respectively. Standard deviation scores (SDS) were employed to normalize values.

RESULTS

Collagen fragments (beta-CTX) were elevated in 47%, procollagen I amino-terminal propeptide (PINP)-in 28%, and osteocalcin (OC) in 11% of patients. The values of the SDS of PINP and OC, but not beta-CTX significantly decreased with MM stage. beta-CTX inversely correlated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and albumin, and directly correlated with serum macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). OC values correlated with albumin and beta2-microglobulin. PINP inversely correlated with LDH. The SDS values of PINP were significantly lower in MM patients with advanced bone disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Circulating PINP concentration may be a useful marker for monitoring of treatment of multiple myeloma patients with bone lytic lesions, in particular, of patients treated with preoteasome inhibitors.