title: Serum and cystic fluid levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor-alpha in patients with epithelial ovarian tumors are correlated.
abstract: At the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, patients have higher serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor-alpha (IL-2R alpha) compared to patients with benign ovarian tumors or healthy blood donors (means of 750 vs. 469 and 390 U/ml, respectively, p < 0.001). Serum levels were positively related to the extent of the disease. Disease progression was associated with rising serum levels of IL-2R alpha in 13 of the 15 patients but no advantage was recognized over serum CA 125 measurements when following the effect of therapy. We measured higher levels of IL-2R alpha in cystic fluids from epithelial ovarian cancers compared to benign ovarian tumors (means of 1,620 and 616 U/ml, respectively, p = 0.0002). In ovarian cancer patients, serum levels at diagnosis were positively correlated to cystic fluid levels (p < 0.0001). The presence of high IL-2R alpha levels in cystic fluids from epithelial ovarian cancer may provide a biochemical signal of lymphocyte activation at the tissue level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: de Bruijn
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: ten Hoor
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: van der Zee
mesh_terms: D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2