High cytokine expression and reduced ovarian reserve in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma or non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the ovarian reserve in female lymphoma patients and the potential relationships with the cytokine network.

Design: Age-matched control study.

Setting: Women's university hospital.

Patient(s): Seventy-three lymphoma patients (57 with classic Hodgkin lymphoma [HL] and 16 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma [NHL]), approaching our center for ovarian tissue cryopreservation (study group) were compared with 25 age-matched healthy volunteers (control group).

Intervention(s): Measurements of antimüllerian hormone (AMH), soluble interleukin-2 receptor (SIL-2R), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels.

Main outcome measure(s): The AMH and cytokine levels of the lymphoma patients and the healthy volunteers were compared. Correlations between AMH with SIL-2R, IL-6, and IL-8 levels were performed.

Result(s): The AMH showed significant lower concentrations in lymphoma patients than in the control group. Higher significant concentrations in lymphoma patients than in control group were found for SIL-2R and IL-6. No differences were observed comparing HL and NHL groups and within the stages of HL group for AMH and all the cytokines analyzed. Finally, significant inverse correlations were observed in lymphoma patients between AMH and SIL-2R, IL-6, and IL-8 levels, but not with TNF-α levels. Positive correlations between SIL-2R with IL-6, and IL-6 with IL-8 were also shown.

Conclusion(s): In patients with HL or NHL at baseline the cytokine network is particularly active and the ovarian reserve is reduced. A strong negative correlation between AMH and SIL-2R, IL-6, and IL-8 has been also evidenced.

Keywords: Antimüllerian hormone; Hodgkin lymphoma. non-Hodgkin lymphoma; cytokines; fertility preservation.