Serum-soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) level determines clinical outcome in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: in combination with the International Prognostic Index.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic significance of serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).


METHODS
One hundred and thirteen consecutive patients with previously untreated aggressive NHL (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 96; peripheral T-cell lymphoma, 17) prospectively participated in this study between 1995 and 2001. The patients were treated with 6-8 cycles of a CHOP or THP (pirarubicin)-COP regimen.


RESULTS
A high serum sIL-2R level (2,000 U/ml and over) at onset was associated with a low complete remission rate. Patients with high sIL-2R had significantly lower survival rates (5-year, 24%) than those with low sIL-2R (under 2,000 U/ml) (74%) (P<0.01). Multivariate analysis employing sIL-2R levels and conventional prognostic factors demonstrated that high sIL-2R, presence of B-symptoms, and advanced age (60 years and older) were significantly unfavorable variables for overall survival. In addition, we attempted to use sIL-2R in combination with the International Prognostic Index (IPI). The patients in the high (H) risk group and those with high sIL-2R in the low-intermediate (LI)/high-intermediate (HI) risk group had significantly lower survival rates than the patients in the low (L) risk group and those with low sIL-2R in the LI/HI risk group (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that a high serum sIL-2R level predicts a poor prognosis in aggressive NHL and may be a useful biomarker for selecting appropriate treatment when used in combination with the IPI.
Goto
Hideko
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, 501-1194 Gifu, Japan.
Tsurumi
Hisashi
H
Takemura
Masao
M
Ino-Shimomura
Yoriko
Y
Kasahara
Senji
S
Sawada
Michio
M
Yamada
Toshiki
T
Hara
Takeshi
T
Fukuno
Kenji
K
Goto
Naoe
N
Okuno
Masataka
M
Takami
Tsuyoshi
T
Seishima
Mitsuru
M
Moriwaki
Hisataka
H
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000473:pathology*; D016411:Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D012307:Risk Factors; D012995:Solubility; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2