Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026
An Organotypic High Throughput System for Characterization of Drug Sensitivity of Primary Multiple Myeloma Cells
Published on: July 15, 2015
Microvessel Density as a Surrogate Prognostic Marker in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: A Meta-Analysis
Panagiotis Ntellas1, Konstantinos Perivoliotis, Katerina Dadouli
1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
Background/Aims:
Bone marrow (BM) angiogenesis is considered a hallmark of multiple myeloma (MM) development and progression, and can be quantified with the use of microvessel density (MVD). The purpose of this study is to provide a review and a meta-analysis of the current literature regarding the prognostic value of MVD in the overall survival (OS) of MM patients.
Methods:
MEDLINE was screened for studies evaluating the OS of MM patients with regard to their MVD count in BM trephine. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) and its associated 95% confidence interval (CI) among MM patients with a high and low MVD count was the primary end point. Secondary outcomes included odds ratios (OR) for 12-, 36-, and 60-month survival.
Results:
Ten eligible trials were identified for the analysis of the primary end point and 9 for the secondary end points. Pooled HR for OS was 1.85 (95% CI: 1.25-2.73, p = 0.002). The pooled OR of survival were 1.59 (95% CI: 1.02-2.46, p = 0.04) at 12 months, 2.90 (95% CI: 1.68-5.03, p = 0.0001) at 36 months, and 3.42 (95% CI: 2.41-4.85, p < 0.00001) at 60 months, in favor of the low MVD group.
Conclusion:
This meta-analysis provides persuasive evidence that MVD has significant impact on the clinical outcome of MM patients.
