Serum soluble interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptor (sIL-2R) in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
Increased concentrations of serum soluble interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor (sIL-2R), a marker of T-lymphocyte activation, have been found in several metastatic solid tumors. To our knowledge, no information is available on serum sIL-2R in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Aim of this study was to evaluate whether disease activity and/or thyroid status may affect circulating sIL-2R in DTC, since it is has recently been demonstrated that serum thyroid hormone concentration positively modulates circulating sIL-2R. DTC patients were divided into 3 groups: Group A: 48 patients without metastases or local recurrences; Group B: 16 patients with cervical lymph node metastases; Group C: 22 patients with distant metastases. All patients were evaluated after total thyroidectomy both off and on L-thyroxine (L-T4) therapy. Control group was composed by 20 healthy euthyroid subjects. sIL-2R was assayed by solid-phase ELISA. In the hypothyroid state, sIL-2R levels of Group A were significantly lower when compared to normal controls (256 +/- 130 vs. 461 +/- 186 U/ml, p < 0.001 by Student t test); Group B and Group C patients off L-T4 therapy had sIL-2R concentrations significantly higher (479 +/- 407 U/ml, Group B; 519 +/- 746 U/ml, Group C) when compared to hypothyroid patients of Group A (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), but not significantly different from normal euthyroid controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Mariotti
S
S
Istituto di Endocrinologia, University of Pisa, Italy.
Barbesino
G
G
Caturegli
P
P
Marinò
M
M
Manetti
L
L
Fugazzola
L
L
Pacini
F
F
Pinchera
A
A
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000556:secondary; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013974:Thyroxine