Multiple myeloma-derived circulating endothelial cells may foster tumor vessel growth

06-19-2006

Multiple myeloma (MM)-derived circulating endothelial cells (CECs) may foster tumor vessel growth.

"In MM CECs represent a vascular marker of angiogenesis and may reflect tumor mass. In this report, we showed that, in 5 MM patients with 13q14 deletion, CECs carried the same chromosome aberration as the neoplastic plasma cells (11%-32% of CECs with 13q14 deletion)," investigators in Italy report.

G.M. Rigolin and colleagues, University of Ferrara, wrote, "Most of the CECs displayed immunophenotypic features of endothelial progenitor cells as they expressed CD133, a marker gradually lost during endothelial differentiation and absent on mature endothelial cells.

"To the contrary, in three patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and 13q14 deletion, CECs were cytogenetically normal and had a mature immunophenotype. In MM CECs, immunoglobulin genes were clonally rearranged."

"These findings suggest a possible origin of CECs from a common hemangioblast precursor that can give rise to both plasma cells and endothelial cells and point to a direct contribution of MM-derived CECs to tumor vasculogenesis and possibly to the spreading and progression of the disease," researchers proposed.

Rigolin and colleagues published their study in Blood (Neoplastic circulating endothelial cells in multiple myeloma with 13q14 deletion. Blood, 2006;107(6):2531-2535).

For additional information, contact G.M. Rigolin, University of Ferrara, Dept. Biomedical Science, Hematology Sect, Azienda Osped University of Arcisped S Anna, Corso Giovecca 203, I-44100 Ferrara, Italy.

The publisher of the journal Blood can be contacted at: American Society Hematology, 1900 M Street. NW Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036, USA.

Keywords: Ferrara, Italy, Genetics, Gene Deletion, Multiple Myeloma, Oncology, Tumors, Circulating Endothelial Cell.

This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.