title: Serum-soluble IL-2 receptor and IL-6 levels in patients with melanoma.
abstract: Elevated soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and IL-6 serum concentrations have been reported as adverse prognostic factors in several types of cancer. In order to determine whether these factors are predictive of metastatic progression in melanoma, sIL-2R and IL-6 levels were measured in sera from 172 patients with melanoma and 60 in healthy controls. Mean sIL-2R values were significantly higher in the patients than in normal controls and the highest values were observed in those that developed metastasis during follow-up. However, no correlation was found with the stage of the disease. Serum IL-6 levels were found to be correlated with age and sex, but not correlated with sIL-2R levels. Statistical analysis was based on logistic and Cox regression models. The factors considered were age, sex, stage, disease-free interval and serum sIL-2R and IL-6 levels. The analysis showed that only the sIL-2R value is significantly linked to metastatic progression. This finding suggests that high serum levels of sIL-2R could be a predictive factor of metastatic progression in malignant melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Morphological Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain. gcpbolom@lg.ehu.es
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Boyano
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: García-Vázquez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gardeazabal
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García de Galdeano
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Smith-Zubiaga
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cañavate
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Raton
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bilbao
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Díaz-Pérez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2