Clinical correlates of elevated serum levels of interleukin 6 in patients with untreated Hodgkin's disease. Am J Med 1997 Jan;102(1):21-8
Date
01/01/1997Pubmed ID
9209197DOI
10.1016/s0002-9343(96)00352-xScopus ID
2-s2.0-0031046182 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 76 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a potent immunomodulatory cytokine that may have pathogenetic significance in several malignancies. In addition, high IL-6 levels have been associated with a poor prognosis in multiple myeloma, nonHodgkin's lymphoma, ovarian cancer, and renal cancer, as well in advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this study, we analyzed IL-6 levels in newly diagnosed Hodgkin's disease and determined clinical correlates of elevated levels.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (lower limit of sensitivity = 0.35 pg/mL) we measured IL-6 levels in sera from 33 healthy controls and 65 untreated patients with Hodgkin's disease.
RESULTS: Interleukin-6 levels in the Hodgkin's patients (median 2.7 pg/mL; range < 0.35 to 38.4 pg/mL) were significantly higher than in the controls (median < 0.35 pg/mL; range < 0.35 to 1.87 pg/mL; P < 0.0001). Interleukin-6 levels were also higher in males (P = 0.03) and in patients with bulky disease (P = 0.026) or advanced Ann Arbor stage (P = 0.017). In addition, serum levels of IL-6 also showed direct linear correlations with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.64, P = 0.0007), platelet count (r = 0.53, P < 0.0001), leukocyte count (r = 0.36, P = 0.003), and beta (2)-microglobulin level (r = 0.4, P = 0.0012); and an inverse linear correlation with serum albumin level (r = -0.43, P = 0.0003). In the 10 patients tested who had elevated serum IL-6 levels pretherapy and who achieved complete remission, serum IL-6 values decreased at the time of remission to the range found in healthy controls.
CONCLUSIONS: Our observations suggest that, in patients with Hodgkin's disease, serum levels of IL-6 are frequently elevated at diagnosis, normalize during remission, and are associated with specific disease characteristics including several adverse prognostic features.
Author List
Seymour JF, Talpaz M, Hagemeister FB, Cabanillas F, 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
AdolescentAdult
Aged
Blood Sedimentation
Female
Hodgkin Disease
Humans
Interleukin-6
Leukocyte Count
Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Staging
Platelet Count
Predictive Value of Tests
Prognosis
Serum Albumin
beta 2-Microglobulin