title: Soluble interleukin-2 receptors in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: The authors performed a retrospective analysis of serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) levels in 72 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) using an enzyme immunoassay. Their objectives were to determine the value of serum sIL-2R in estimating the tumor burden, and its predictive value in response to therapy and prognosis. The data showed that serum sIL-2R levels in patients were significantly higher than that of healthy controls. The serum levels correlated with clinical staging and hence the tumor burden of NPC. Serial measurement of serum sIL-2R provided an accurate prognostic index of the clinical response to radiotherapy in at least 89% of patients with raised serum sIL-2R at initial diagnosis (defined as mean + 2 SD of healthy controls) and a reliable predictive index in all patients who subsequently developed distant metastasis despite initial radiotherapy. Simultaneous measurement of Epstein-Barr virus-related serology (IgA-VCA and IgG-EA) failed to demonstrate predictive value comparable with that of serum sIL-2R. The authors conclude that monitoring serum sIL-2R levels has clinical and prognostic significance in patients with NPC and that prospective studies are indicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin.
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Tsao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2