Soluble interleukin-2 receptor serum level as a predictor of locoregional control and survival for patients with head and neck carcinoma: results of a multivariate prospective study.
BACKGROUND
The diagnosis and follow-up of head and neck carcinoma patients are based exclusively on clinical staging, which cannot always predict clinical outcome accurately. Because oral squamous cell carcinomas produce interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and express IL-2 receptors, the authors assessed the prognostic value of the serum levels of these markers.


METHODS
Serum levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha, soluble IL-2 receptors (s-IL-2-R), and acute phase proteins were measured at the time of diagnosis in a prospective study of 85 patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. The influence of each clinical and laboratory parameter on locoregional control and survival was analyzed.


RESULTS
At presentation, a relationship was observed between advanced tumor (T) classification and high serum levels of CRP (P = 0.0015) and s-IL-2-R (P < 0.05). A high lymph node (N) classification was significantly associated with elevated serum IL-6 (P = 0.01) and CRP levels (P = 0.0002). In the univariate analysis, T classification, N classification, performance status, Prognostic Inflammatory and Nutritional Index, and serum s-IL-2-R level were significantly correlated with both locoregional control and survival. Multivariate analysis showed that the only significant prognostic factors related independently to locoregional control were N classification (P = 0.02) and serum s-IL-2-R level (P = 0.02). In a Cox multivariate analysis, serum s-IL-2-R level was found to be the most predictive factor of survival (P = 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that serum s-IL-2-R level at the time of diagnosis represents a new independent prognostic variable for predicting the risk of locoregional recurrence and survival for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Tartour
E
E
Head and Neck Oncology Group, Institut Curie, Paris, France.
Deneux
L
L
Mosseri
V
V
Jaulerry
C
C
Brunin
F
F
Point
D
D
Validire
P
P
Dubray
B
B
Fridman
W H
WH
Rodriguez
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D015850:Interleukin-6; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha