Context: The fluctuations of proteins in multiple myeloma (MM) are well-known markers for checking the status of the patients.
Aims: The objective of this study was to examine three proteins that have an important role in disease progression.
Subjects and methods: The study was performed with two groups: 30 MM stage I patients' (14 females/16 males; aged 60.83 ± 12.38 years) as case group and 40 healthy individuals (18 females/22 males; aged 57.65 ± 6.43 years) as control group. Both groups have been matched in gender and age. Bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteopontin (OPN), and β2-microglobulin (β2M) were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Serum BSP levels of MM-I patients was significantly higher than that of healthy controls (29.24 ± 5.57 vs. 20.89 ± 3.67, P = 0.001). OPN levels of MM-I patients were significantly lower than that of healthy individuals (12.03 ± 3.45 vs. 19.35 ± 4.67, P = 0.001). β2M levels of patients and controls were similar (1.49 ± 0.67 vs. 1.29 ± 0.55, P = 0.193).
Conclusions: The results suggested that myeloma cells may affect the production of BSP and OPN, which possibly contributes to osteoclastic bone resorption in MM-I patients. Their levels may be a useful biomarker for assessing bone destruction in MM-I patients and distinguishing MM-I from healthy individuals.
Keywords: Bone sialoprotein; multiple myeloma stage I; osteopontin; β2-microglobulin.