title: [Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients and its relationship to prognosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relationship of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and to evaluate clinical implication of serum TNF alpha.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum TNF alpha levals were measured by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 76 NHL patients. Survival analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum TNF alpha was increased in 55% newly diagnosed patients, and dropped to normal level on remission but increased again on relapse. Elevated TNF alpha levels of patients at diagnosis were significantly associated with Ann Arbor stage, bulky tumor and B symptoms, but weren't correlated to serum lactic-dehydrogenase (LDH) nor to beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG). The survival period of patients with elevated TNF alpha levels was shorter than that of patients with normal TNF alpha levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated serum TNF alpha level is associated with high tumor burden and can be used as a prognostic marker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D015996:Survival Rate; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha