Serum levels of angiopoietin-2 are associated with the growth of multiple myeloma.

Angiopoietins and their receptor, Tie-2, have crucial role in angiogenesis. We measured serum levels of angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), soluble Tie-2, and factors of burden and prognosis in myeloma (LDH, CRP, beta-2 microglobulin, and interleukin-6) in 55 newly diagnosed patients, with 30 of them in plateau phase, in order to note correlations among them. Levels of Ang-2 were higher in patients in advanced stage of disease, decreased in plateau phase, and correlated with all other factors. Circulating Ang-2 in myeloma patients significantly correlated to factors of disease burden and prognosis, and therefore measuring its levels may be important for the valuation of the disease.