[Measurement of five cytokines in the serum of malignant lymphoma patients]

Abstract

Objective: To study the clinical significance of serum cytokine levels in patients with malignant lymphoma(ML).

Methods: Serum levels of five cytokines and receptor were measured in 49 patients with ML by RIA and ELISA.

Results: Except TNF alpha, significantly higher pretreatment levels of interleukin-2(IL-2), soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R), interleukin-6(IL-6) and interleukin-8(IL-8) were observed in most of ML patients at diagnosis or relapse as compared with controls(P < 0.05). Cytokine levels declined in responding patients after therapy and there were no differences between CR cases and controls, the cytokine levels remained elevated in non-responding patients. The levels of IL-2 and sIL-2R correlated with the clinical stage, which were significantly higher in patients in stage III, IV. The increase of sIL-2R correlated with the tumor burden. The level of IL-6 was higher in patients presenting B symptoms and had no correlation with the clinical stage. The elevated IL-8 level correlated with the clinical stage and presenting B symptoms of ML patients and had no correlation with other clinical-hematological parameters.

Conclusion: The changes of cytokines may be served as a means to observe the condition of ML patients and supervise their response to treatment.