A progressive postoperative increase in the serum level of soluble receptors for interleukin-2 is an indicator of a poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.
Activated T lymphocytes release a soluble form of IL-2R (SoIL-2R) into the bloodstream, which can be detected by CD25 monoclonal antibody. Perioperative changes of serum levels of SoIL-2R and the number of CD25-positive cells were monitored simultaneously to clarify the clinical implications of SoIL-2R in patients with gastric cancer (n=91). Preoperative levels of SoIL-2R were significantly higher than in normal controls and levels were a useful indicator of possible lymph node involvement. Postoperative levels of SoIL-2R increased independently of the number of CD25-positive cells. Patients with progressive postoperative increases in levels of SoIL-2R had both a significantly high frequency of postoperative relapse and a poor prognosis. Increased SoIL-2R may reduce the availability of IL-2 by binding to it. Postoperative progressive increases in SoIL-2R appear to be a good indicator for a poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.
Maeta
M
M
First Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683, Japan.
Saito
H
H
Katano
K
K
Kondo
A
A
Tsujitani
S
S
Makino
M
M
Ikeguchi
M
M
Kaibara
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D012995:Solubility; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2