Adipokines as Prognostic Biomarkers in Multiple Myeloma: A Case-Control Study.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Endocrinology
• Immunology

Background:

• Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable plasma cell cancer with variable outcomes.
• Current prognostic systems lack comprehensive disease complexity assessment.
• Bone marrow adipokines influence inflammation, metabolism, and immune interactions, potentially impacting MM progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate circulating adipokines and related mediators as potential biomarkers for MM disease activity.
• To assess the association of these biomarkers with treatment response in multiple myeloma patients.

Main Methods:

• A case-control, cross-sectional study involving 40 MM patients and 38 healthy controls.
• Serum levels of eight adipokine-related molecules (adiponectin, leptin, resistin, chemerin, adipsin, TSP-1, PON-1, MPO) were measured using ELISA and multiplex immunoassays.
• Statistical analysis correlated adipokine levels with prognostic markers (sB2M, LDH, albumin, renal function) and treatment response.

Main Results:

• MM patients displayed significantly higher levels of adiponectin, resistin, chemerin, adipsin, TSP-1, and MPO, and lower leptin compared to controls.
• Chemerin and PON-1 correlated with sB2M; TSP-1 with LDH; MPO with M-protein and albumin.
• Adiponectin and TSP-1 were lower in progressive disease than in complete remission, indicating a link to treatment response.

Conclusions:

• Adipokines are dysregulated in MM, showing associations with disease burden, renal function, and treatment response.
• Novel links for TSP-1, PON-1, and adipsin suggest unexplored microenvironmental pathways in MM.
• Adipokine profiling could enhance existing prognostic markers and offer insights into the MM tumor microenvironment.