Prognostic value of serum interleukin-6 in diffuse large-cell lymphoma. Ann Intern Med 1997 Aug 01;127(3):186-94
Date
08/01/1997Pubmed ID
9245223DOI
10.7326/0003-4819-127-3-199708010-00002Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0030861218 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 100 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Interleukin-6 has important lymphoid bioregulatory effects, and serum levels of interleukin-6 are often elevated in patients with lymphoma.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the relation between serum levels of interleukin-6 before treatment and outcome in patients with diffuse large-cell lymphoma.
DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis with multivariate analysis.
SETTING: Tertiary referral center.
PARTICIPANTS: 118 untreated patients with diffuse large-cell lymphoma who were enrolled in frontline chemotherapy protocols and 45 healthy controls.
MEASUREMENTS: Serum levels of interleukin-6 were measured by using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels below the upper limit of the range for controls were considered normal. Outcomes were complete response, failure-free survival, and overall survival.
RESULTS: Serum levels of interleukin-6 were higher in patients with lymphoma (median, 4.6 pg/ml [range, undetectable to 224 pg/mL]) than in controls (median, undetectable [range, undetectable to 4.3 pg/mL]) (P = 0.009). The complete response rate was 95% for persons with normal interleukin-6 levels and 55% for persons with high interleukin-6 levels (P = 0.001). Patients with high interleukin-6 levels had inferior failure-free and overall survival rates (P < 0.001 for both comparisons). The actuarial 4-year failure-free and overall survival rates were 72% and 85%, respectively, for persons with normal interleukin-6 levels and 37% and 46%, respectively, for persons with high interleukin-6 levels. In multivariate analysis, interleukin-6 was selected as the most significant predictor of complete response and failure-free survival. Failure-free and overall survival of patients stratified according to International Prognostic Index score could be further stratified by interleukin-6 level (P < or = 0.03 for all comparisons).
CONCLUSION: In patients with diffuse large-cell lymphoma, serum interleukin-6 levels are an independent prognostic factor for complete response and failure-free survival.
Author List
Preti HA, Cabanillas F, Talpaz M, Tucker SL, Seymour JF, Kurzrock RAuthor
Razelle Kurzrock MD Center Associate Director, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsDisease-Free Survival
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Humans
Interleukin-6
Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate
Treatment Outcome