Prognostic value of serum interleukin-6 in diffuse large-cell lymphoma

Abstract

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 th..