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A plethora of myeloma growth factors (MGFs) has been identified, but their relative importance and cooperation have not been determined. We investigated 5 MGFs (interleukin-6 IL-6, insulin-like growth factor type 1 IGF-1, hepatocyte growth factor HGF, HB-epidermal growth factor HB-EGF, and a proliferation-inducing ligand APRIL) in serum-free cultures of human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs). In CD45(-) HMCLs, an autocrine IGF-1 loop promoted autonomous survival whereas CD45(+) HMCLs could not survive without addition of MGFs, mainly IGF-1 and IL-6. IGF-1 was the major one: its activity was abrogated by an IGF-1R inhibitor only, whereas IL-6, HGF, or HB-EGF activity was inhibited by both IGF-1R- and receptor-specific inhibition. APRIL activity was inhibited by its specific inhibitor only. Of the investigated MGFs and their receptors, only expressions of IGF-1R and IL-6R in multiple myeloma cells (MMCs) of patients delineate a group with adverse prognosis. This is mainly explained by a strong association of IGF-1R and IL-6R expression and t(4;14) translocation, but IGF-1R expression without t(4;14) can also have a poor prognosis. Thus, IGF-1-targeted therapy, eventually in combination with anti-IL-6 therapy, could be promising in a subset of patients with MMCs expressing IGF-1R.
Sprynski et al. (2009) studied this question.