Detection of soluble tumor necrosis factor-p55 levels in the serum and ascitic fluid of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To examine soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-p55 (sTNFR-p55) levels in the serum and ascitic fluid and investigate the significance of this examination in assessment of the clinical status of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to examine sTNFR-p55 levels in the serum and ascitic fluid in 25 patients with HCC and 25 with liver cirrhosis (LC).


RESULTS
sTNFR-p55 levels in the serum and ascitic fluid in patients with HCC were significantly higher than those in patients with LC and controls (P=0.001). No significant difference was found between LC and the control in terms of serum sTNFR-p55 levels (P=0.19). Positive correlation was observed between sTNFR-p55 levels in the serum and in ascitic fluid of patients with HCC and LC (r=1.000, P<0.001). Logistic regression revealed that in patients with HCC, serum sTNFR-p55 levels were positively correlated with TBil and AFP in the peripheral blood (r=0.524, P=0.01 and r=0.234, P=0.03, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased sTNFRs-p55 levels in the serum and ascitic fluid reflect abnormal immune status of the patients with HCC and help predict the development of tumor.
Gao
Lei
L
Department of Oncology, 157 Hospital of PLA, Guangzhou 510510, China.
Bai
Lan
L
Nan
Qing-Zhen
QZ
Yang
Xi-Shan
XS
Chen
Kai
K
Wen
Han-Ping
HP
Lai
Zhuo-Sheng
ZS
Bo
Lin
L
Zhang
Ya-Li
YL
Zhang
Zhen-Shu
ZS
D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I
D015703:Antigens, CD; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I