Table 4.
Comparison of levels of cytokines and soluble cytokine receptors in the treated versus untreated groups.
| Parameter | Patients with MM, group N | Patients with MM, group S | p | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n | x ± SD | n | x ± SD | ||
| IL-6 (pg/ml) | 22 | 17.2 ± 20.7 | 43 | 11.8 ± 38.5 | NS |
| sIL-6R (ng/ml) | 22 | 42.9 ± 15.9 | 43 | 34.1 ± 12.4 | NS |
| VEGF (pg/ml) | 22 | 64.5 ± 52.6 | 43 | 52.9 ± 43.4 | NS |
| sVEGF-R2 (pg/ml) | 22 | 7734 ± 2007 | 43 | 7407 ± 2188 | NS |
| HGF (pg/ml) | 29 | 2007 ± 1660 | 47 | 2277 ± 3210 | NS |
| b-FGF (pg/ml) | 29 | 7.44 ±11.11 | 47 | 8.21 ± 10.69 | NS |
| TGF- β1 (ng/ml) | 29 | 14.24 ± 7.00 | 46 | 11.26 ± 6.20 | 0.025 |
b-FGF, b-fibroblast growth factor; HGF, hepatocyte growth factor; IL-6, interleukin-6; MM, multiple myeloma; N, newly diagnosed patients, previously untreated; NS, not significant; S, patients remaining in treatment; sIL- 6R, soluble IL-6 receptor; SD, standard deviation; SVEGF-R2, VEGF soluble receptor; TGF-β1, transforming growth factor-β1; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.