Melphalan exposure induces an interleukin-6 deficit in bone marrow stromal cells and osteoblasts

► Bone marrow stromal cells and osteoblasts demonstrate reduced IL-6 expression in response to chemotherapy exposure. ► Melphalan more dramatically induces IL-6 reduction than a variety of other agents evaluated. ► IL-6 remains effectively reduced by melphalan even in the setting of myeloma and osteoblast or stromal cell co-culture. ► Previously characterized IL-6 polymorphisms do not correlate with stromal cell response to chemotherapy.