Relationship between tumour necrosis factor‐related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) and vascular endothelial growth factor in human multiple myeloma patients

Tumour necrosis factor‐alfa (TNF‐α) is an inflammatory cytokine with a wide spectrum of biological activity, including angiogenesis. Tumour necrosis factor‐related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), which belongs to the TNF family of proteins, plays a role in the regulation of vascular responses, but its effect on the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is unclear. We analysed TRAIL concentrations in parallel with pro‐angiogenic cytokines in serum and their expression in trephine biopsy (TB) in 56 patients with newly diagnosed IgG MM and 24 healthy volunteers. The study showed statistically higher concentrations of TRAIL and TNF‐α, as well as of VEGF and its receptor, in MM patients compared to healthy volunteers and patients in advanced stages of the disease. Furthermore, we observed a significant decrease in all studied pro‐angiogenic cytokines and significant increase of TRAIL concentration after anti‐angiogenic therapy, with meaningful differences between responders (at least partial remission) and patients with progression during the induction treatment. It was also established that TRAIL correlated statistically and negatively with pro‐angiogenic cytokines such as VEGF with its receptor and expression of VEGF and syndecan‐1 in TB. In summary, our data indicate that in MM patients, both clinical course and treatment responsiveness are associated with dynamic yet corresponding changes of levels of TRAIL parallel pro‐angiogenic mediators such as VEGF with its receptor and expression of VEGF and syndecan‐1 in TB. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.