Hitherto conducted studies concerned with the problem of cytoadhesive molecules (CAM) dealt only in a very limited way with the problem of multiple myeloma (MM).The subject of the submit- ted paper was evaluation of the relationship of soluble forms of „vascular cell adhesive molecule- 1“ (sVCAM-1) and „intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1“ (sICAM-1) in serum from the peripheral bloodstream (PBS) and serum from a bone marrow aspirate (BMA) with selected clinical and laboratory indicators of MM (beta2-microglobulin, thymidine kinase, immunochemical type of MM, S-creatinine, S-monoclonal immunoglobulin, S-albumin, Hb, percentage ratio of plasmocytes in bone marrow, age, performance status, stage and substage of MM and activity of disease) and proliferation characteristics of myeloma plasmocytes. The authors analyzed two groups of pati- ents with MM, a group of 64 examined in different stages of MM and a group of 39 examined when the diagnosis of MM was established (median age 63 and 64 years, male/female ratio 1.6 and 1.3 :1). The sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 levels were examined by the ELISA method. Elevated values of sVCAM-1 in PBS were recorded in both groups in 87.5% and 87% patients, medians of sVCAM-1 exceeded the upper range of normal values (714 ng/ml) almost twice ( 1180 and 1295 ng/ml) whereby median values in BMA (1347 and 1546 ng/ml) were always somewhat higher than in PBS. Elevated sICAM-1 values in PBS were found in 35 and 33% patients, median levels of sICAM-1 in PBS and in BMA did not exceed the upper normal range (691 ng/ml) and did not differ substantial- ly (518 vs. 476 and 518 vs.500 ng/ml). Correlation analysis (Pearson´s correlation coefficient and Mann-Whitney’s test , p0.05) revealed in both groups a significant relationship of both CAM asses- sed in PBS and BMA (sVCAM-1 p-0.0000 and p-0.012, sICAM-1 p-0.0000 and p-0.0011). No relation- ship was found between sVCAM-1 and s-ICAM-1 levels assessed in PBS and BMA with proliferation indexes of myeloma plasmocytes ,i.e. values of the propidium-iodide index PI/CD38 and PI/B-B4 (CD138). In the whole group of 64 patients a relationship was found between sVCAM- 1 in PBS and values of S-creatinine (p - 0.004), Hb (p - 0.033), S-albumin (p - 0.035), S-beta2-microg- lobulin (S-B2M) (p - 0.0000) and S-thymidine kinase (S-TK) (p-0.0000), when evaluating BMA, a relationship with B2M (p -0.011). In the group of 39 patients examined when the diagnosis of MM was made a relationship was found of sVCAM-1 in PBS to S-B2M) (p - 0.0000), S-TK(p-0.0000) and to S-creatinine (p -0.005), in BMA there was only a relationship with B2M (p - 0.020). In the whole group of 64 patients there was no relationship between s-ICAM levels in PBS with any of the examined indicators, when evaluating BMA only a relationship with B2M (p - 0.038) and TK (p - 0.022). In the group of 39 patients examined during the diagnosis of MM a relationship was found of sICAM-1 only with B2M in BMA (p - 0.013). In the total group of 64 a relationship was found between sVCAM-1 in PBS with the patient´s age (p - 0.032) and the substage of MM(p-0.024), in the group of 39 patients a relationship between sVCAM on PBS and the substage of MM (p -0.031). On analysis of sICAM-1 a relationship was found between levels in BMA only with the patient´s age (p -0.015). From the investigation ensued that despite evidence of a number of correlations be- tween sVCAM and sICAM-1 levels and clinical and laboratory indicators of MM no relationship was found which could be applied under conditions of clinical practice. Assessment of levels of different indicators in serum of bone marrow aspirate did not reveal any advantages over exami- nation in peripheral blood serum.

        Key words: Multiple myeloma -Cytoadhesive molecules - sVCAM-1 - sICAM-1 - Proliferation index of myeloma plasmocytes - Clinical indicators - Laboratory parameters.