Exploratory Identification of Potential Serum Biomarkers Associated with Relapse in Multiple Myeloma.
6 affiliations
- 1Department of Pathology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
- 2Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
- 3Proteomics Research Laboratory, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.
- 4Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.
- 5Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Pathumthani University, Pathumthani 12000, Thailand.
- 6Department of Pharmacology, Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok 10400, Thailand.
Abstract
Background: Relapse remains a major clinical challenge in multiple myeloma (MM), highlighting the need to identify circulating proteins associated with relapse as candidates for disease monitoring and further biomarker development. Methods: An integrated proteomic and transcriptomic approach was used to identify candidate biomarkers associated with relapsed MM. Differentially abundant proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS profiling of paired serum samples collected at very good partial response (≥VGPR) and at relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) diagnosis. A publicly available gene expression dataset (GSE47552) comparing malignant and normal plasma cells was analyzed to assess gene-protein concordance. Candidate biomarkers were subsequently evaluated by ELISA using paired serum samples from 40 patients collected at ≥VGPR and relapse. Associations with bone marrow plasma cell (BMPC) burden and CD30 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) were further explored. Results: LC-MS/MS profiling identified 938 proteins, including 84 increased and 39 decreased in RRMM compared with ≥VGPR. Based on predefined selection criteria, TNFRSF8 (CD30) and PTBP2 were prioritized as candidate biomarkers. Serum TNFRSF8 levels were significantly higher at relapse than at ≥VGPR (p < 0.001), whereas PTBP2 levels showed no significant change (p = 0.578). Serum TNFRSF8 levels were not associated with BMPC burden, and CD30 was absent on plasma cells by IHC, suggesting an increase independent of plasma cell expansion. Conclusions: This exploratory study identified serum TNFRSF8 as a candidate circulating biomarker associated with relapse in MM. Further mechanistic and clinical studies in larger, well-characterized prospective cohorts are warranted to clarify its biological basis and potential clinical relevance.
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BibTeX
@article{chantkran2026exploratory,
title = {{Exploratory Identification of Potential Serum Biomarkers Associated with Relapse in Multiple Myeloma.}},
author = {Wittawat Chantkran and Chonlada Laoruangroj and Sittiruk Roytrakul and Oytip Nathalang and Pasra Arnutti and Janeyuth Chaisakul and Dollapak Apipongrat},
journal = {Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/diseases14100380},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930007},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exploratory Identification of Potential Serum Biomarkers Associated with Relapse in Multiple Myeloma.
AU - Wittawat Chantkran
AU - Chonlada Laoruangroj
AU - Sittiruk Roytrakul
AU - Oytip Nathalang
AU - Pasra Arnutti
AU - Janeyuth Chaisakul
AU - Dollapak Apipongrat
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/16
JO - Diseases (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/diseases14100380
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930007
AB - Background: Relapse remains a major clinical challenge in multiple myeloma (MM), highlighting the need to identify circulating proteins associated with relapse as candidates for disease monitoring and further biomarker development. Methods: An integrated proteomic and transcriptomic approach was used to identify candidate biomarkers associated with relapsed MM. Differentially abundant proteins were identified by LC-MS/MS profiling of paired serum samples collected at very good partial response (≥VGPR) and at relapsed/refractory MM (RRMM) diagnosis. A publicly available gene expression dataset (GSE47552) comparing malignant and normal plasma cells was analyzed to assess gene-protein concordance. Candidate biomarkers were subsequently evaluated by ELISA using paired serum samples from 40 patients collected at ≥VGPR and relapse. Associations with bone marrow plasma cell (BMPC) burden and CD30 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) were further explored. Results: LC-MS/MS profiling identified 938 proteins, including 84 increased and 39 decreased in RRMM compared with ≥VGPR. Based on predefined selection criteria, TNFRSF8 (CD30) and PTBP2 were prioritized as candidate biomarkers. Serum TNFRSF8 levels were significantly higher at relapse than at ≥VGPR (p < 0.001), whereas PTBP2 levels showed no significant change (p = 0.578). Serum TNFRSF8 levels were not associated with BMPC burden, and CD30 was absent on plasma cells by IHC, suggesting an increase independent of plasma cell expansion. Conclusions: This exploratory study identified serum TNFRSF8 as a candidate circulating biomarker associated with relapse in MM. Further mechanistic and clinical studies in larger, well-characterized prospective cohorts are warranted to clarify its biological basis and potential clinical relevance.
SN - 2079-9721
ER -