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The aim of the study was to determine the levels of selected cytokines and chemokines in the serum of multiple myeloma (MM) patients treated with bortezomib-based regimens. A total of 71 MM patients were examined: 41 with primary refractory disease (17) or early relapse (28), and 30 who were bortezomib sensitive with no progression for at least six months. Patients who demonstrated CR or PR after bortezomib-based therapies longer than six months after treatment discontinuation were designated bortezomib sensitive. Serum cytokine levels were assayed with Bio-Rad Bio-Plex Pro Human Cytokine 27-Plex Assay on the MAGPIX Multiplex Reader and the Bio-Plex® 200 System (Bio-Rad). Higher levels of MIP-1α and lower levels of MIP-1β and IL-9 were associated with better responses to bortezomib-based treatment, and higher levels of IL-1ra and IL-8 were associated with bone involvement. MCP-1 was elevated in patients with hemoglobin

It has been previously revealed that statins used at high concentrations display antileukemic potential towards chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells. However, their usage alone in clinical practice may be limited due to possible side effects of high doses of these drugs. On the other hand, combined treatment of leukemia with statins and the conventional chemotherapeutics is questionable because of unknown influence of the first on the standard treatment results. This study has revealed that in vitro atorvastatin increases the proapoptotic potential of cladribine and mafosfamide in CLL cells isolated from peripheral blood of patients. Moreover, a preincubation with the above statin sensitizes leukemic cells to CM-induced apoptosis even at small concentrations of the drug. The usage of atorvastatin together with or followed by the conventional chemotherapy should be considered as therapeutic option for the treatment for this leukemia. Interestingly, CM-resistant patients might have the biggest benefits from atorvastatin administration.