Preventives/remedies for myeloma tumor and method for diagnosing the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a preventive or therapeutic drug for a myeloma tumor and osteoclastic bone loss associating therewith, the drug containing as an active ingredient an osteopontin-production regulator or inhibitor; a screening method for a preventive or therapeutic drug for a myeloma tumor, characterized by determining osteopontin production regulatory or inhibitory effect; as well as a diagnostic kit for a myeloma tumor, characterized by including a reagent for measuring blood osteopontin level, and a diagnostic method.

1 .- 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A method for diagnosing myeloma or determining its severity, comprising:
 measuring the blood osteopontin level of a subject and comparing the measured level with the osteopontin level in a reference sample,   wherein an elevated osteopontin level in said subject compared to the level in the reference sample correlates with the presence of myeloma in a subject or where the relative elevation of osteopontin level compared to a reference sample correlates with the severity of myeloma.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the osteopontin level is measured immunologically. 
     
     
         10 . A method for treating myeloma comprising:
 administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound which reduces osteopontin levels.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said compound inhibits the production of osteopontin by myeloma cells. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said compound is a PPARγ agonist. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of troglitazone, pioglitazone, rosiglitazone, and indomethacin. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said compound is an HMG CoA reductase inhibitor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of rosuvastatin, lovastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin, cerivastatin, pitavastatin and mevastatin. 
     
     
         16 . A kit for diagnosing myeloma comprising at least one reagent for measuring osteopontin level in a biological sample.