Faculty Collaboration Database

Serum interleukin-6 levels correlate with prognosis in diffuse large-cell lymphoma. J Clin Oncol 1995 Mar;13(3):575-82

Date

03/01/1995

Pubmed ID

7884418

DOI

10.1200/JCO.1995.13.3.575

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0028986492 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   144 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a potent immunomodulatory cytokine that may have pathogenetic and prognostic significance in a number of disorders. The objective of this study was to examine the correlation between serum IL-6 levels and phenotypic characteristics, as well as outcome of patients with diffuse large-cell lymphoma (DLCL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; lower limit of sensitivity, 0.35 pg/mL), we measured IL-6 levels in frozen sera from 33 healthy controls and 58 untreated patients with DLCL who were enrolled onto a single combination chemotherapy protocol. Serum IL-6 levels were correlated with clinical and laboratory features at diagnosis and with failure-free and overall survival.

RESULTS: Serum IL-6 levels in the lymphoma patients (median, 4.37 pg/mL; range, < 0.35 to 110 pg/mL) were significantly higher than in the control group (median, < 0.35 pg/mL; range, < 0.35 to 1.87 pg/mL) (P < .0001). Serum IL-6 levels were higher in patients with B symptoms (P = .012), an elevated beta 2-microglobulin level (> or = 3.0 mg/L) (P = .017), and a poor performance status (P = .02). Direct linear correlations with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), platelet count, and total WBC count, and an inverse linear correlation with the serum albumin level, were observed (all P < .02). Patients with elevated serum IL-6 levels had inferior failure-free (P = .042) and overall survival (P = .05) compared with those with normal serum IL-6 levels.

CONCLUSION: In patients with DLCL, elevated serum levels of IL-6 at diagnosis are frequent, strongly associated with many adverse disease features, and predictive of a poor failure-free and overall survival.

Author List

Seymour JF, Talpaz M, Cabanillas F, Wetzler M, Kurzrock R

Author

Razelle Kurzrock MD Center Associate Director, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Blood Sedimentation
Disease-Free Survival
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Humans
Interleukin-6
Least-Squares Analysis
Leukocyte Count
Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse
Male
Middle Aged
Platelet Count
Prognosis
Regression Analysis
Serum Albumin
Survival Rate
beta 2-Microglobulin