Angiopoietin-2: a potential novel diagnostic marker in multiple myeloma
Suhasini Joshi1, Rehan Khan, Manoj Sharma
1Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029, India.
Background:
Multiple myeloma (MM) was the first hematological malignancy in which a prognostic relevance of bone marrow (BM) angiogenesis was reported. Microenvironment formed by reactive oxygen species, growth factors and chemokines initiates the process of BM angiogenesis. Among the angiopoietins, angiopoietin-1 is involved in vessel stability, whereas angiopoietin-2 is involved in vessel sprouting.
Design And Methods:
Circulatory levels of angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2 and VEGF in 62 MM patients and 50 healthy controls were determined using ELISA.
Results:
Significant increase in VEGF and angiopoietin-2 level was observed in patients which correlated positively with the severity of the disease, whereas no alteration was observed in angiopoietin-1 levels.
Conclusion:
Significant elevation in angiopoietin-2 and VEGF levels and their correlation with severity of the disease indicate their utility as potential tumor markers along with β(2)- microglobulin and might also suggest new therapeutic target for anticancer treatment.
