Serum-soluble IL-2 receptor and IL-6 levels in patients with melanoma.
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.
Boyano
M D
MD
Department of Cell Biology and Morphological Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Spain. gcpbolom@lg.ehu.es
García-Vázquez
M D
MD
Gardeazabal
J
J
García de Galdeano
A
A
Smith-Zubiaga
I
I
Cañavate
M L
ML
Raton
J A
JA
Bilbao
I
I
Díaz-Pérez
J L
JL
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*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2