Soluble interleukin-2 receptor α and interleukin-2 serum levels in patients with basal cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is an immunogenic neoplasm and the imbalance in Th1/Th2 cytokines expression seems to play the major role in pathogenesis and clinical behaviour of the tumour.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association of soluble interleukin 2α receptor (sIL-2Rα) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) serum concentrations with BCC.


METHODS
The study involved 110 individuals with BCC and 60 healthy age- and sex-matched volunteers. Serum levels of sIL-2Rα and IL-2 were measured using ELISA test.


RESULTS
We found significantly (p = 0.027) increased sIL-2Rα serum levels in BCC patients, in comparison to healthy controls. Statistically (p = 0.04) higher sIL-2Rα levels were observed in patients with more advanced tumours. Serum levels of sIL-2Rα showed a significant linear (r = 0.24, p = 0.018) correlation with tumour size. The average IL-2 serum levels in BCC patients were statistically (p = 0.039) decreased compared to controls. Significantly (p = 0.0454) lower median IL-2 levels were observed in patients with more advanced tumours. A negative correlation between sIL-2Rα and IL-2 serum concentrations was revealed (r = -0.22; p = 0.027).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results testify to the importance of the IL-2/sIL-2Rα signalling pathway in pathogenesis of BCC, suggesting that IL-2 and sIL-2Rα might be considered as potential markers of disease and targets for immunotherapy in BCC patients.
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
Michal
M
Sobjanek
Department of Paediatrics, Haematology and Oncology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
Ewa
E
Bien
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
Monika
M
Zablotna
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
Malgorzata
M
Sokolowska-Wojdylo
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
Monika
M
Sikorska
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
Magdalena
M
Lange
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdansk, Gdansk, Poland.
Roman
R
Nowicki
IL-2; basal cell carcinoma; interleukin-2; sIL-2Rα; soluble interleukin-2 receptor α